Wastage of food in marriages ought to be curtailed (“Pomp and show to the fore, blood and sweat beneath,” Feb. 20). Recently, I was at a marriage where guests were served eight types of curries. There was no difference in the taste although they all had exotic names. Not even half of what was served was eaten.
K.V. Sankaranarayanan,
Chennai
Although parents of prospective grooms say ‘no' to dowry, they want the bride's parents to indulge in pomp and show. “ Koi kami nahi honi chahiye, sab se acchi shaadi ho ” (there should be no shortcomings in the marriage celebrations, they should be the best) is their refrain.
Meenu Jabalia,
Gurdaspur
Most Indians try to ape the West in all aspects of life. Interestingly, many weddings in the West are planned and paid for by the bride and the groom. The parents pitch in with what they can. The guests are extremely close family and friends.
C.G. Senthilkumar,
Sunnyvale
Marriage is no longer a simple occasion that involves relatives and close friends. I think we imitate the political leaders, the business class and cine actors whose functions are given wide and vulgar publicity.
A. Michael Dhanaraj,
Coimbatore
Here are some alternatives to gala weddings: Find wedding planners as seen in the Hindi movie Band Baaja Barat . With reasonable commissions and budgets, the weddings can be decent.
Or, discover the various wedding styles. Some are simple and low budget but display ample commitment and authenticity (weddings in the north-east, for instance). Opt for the styles which come with a motley of traditional wedding attires, processions, etc.. It will increase our cultural awareness. Why always go for a Victorian or Sahara-family style of wedding?
Hungyo Kharerin,
New Delhi
