The big fat Indian wedding

An attitude of 'to each his own' might dominate Indian political scenario at the moment, but as far as Indian weddings are concerned, unity is the buzzword. True to the core philosophy of Indian democracy 'Unity in Diversity' modern-day Indian brides and grooms are looking forward to weddings that are an amalgamation of wedding practices from across the country.

Dressing up brides is her passion!

Take the case of Purvi Shah, 32, who is a medical graduate practising in San Diego, California. When Purvi, a Gujarati by birth, got married to her fiance Sharad Narayanan this November she had an elaborate ceremony. This included rituals and customs specific not only to the bride or groom's culture but also had ceremonies typical to other communities as well. For instance Purvi had organized for a 'mehendi' and 'sangeet' ceremony apart from the traditional 'garba' ceremony typical to Guajarati weddings. Like the Bengali bride, she also wore a traditional Bengali red bordered saree with 'sankha' and 'pala'(typical bangles worn by Bengali married women)' 'on the day of her marriage. Her reception menu consisted of both continental cuisine and delicacies from across India.

When asked about the presence of diversity in her marriage, Purvi justified her choices by saying, "I married late; marriage was a big occasion for me. I wanted the best of everything and was keen to amalgamate anything and everything, which I had taken a fancy over the years. Therefore right from Bengali bangles to Gujarati 'garba', I ensured I had everything added to my wedding."

Images: Aruba.com/India Blooms

Text: Ritusmita Biswas / Trans World Features