Typical reaction from parent when their kid turns 20 is
if its a girl: oh god we better start getting jewelry for her wedding.. our Lil girl is growing up
if its a boy: okay he has a yr to go and then he better get atleast a partial scholarship to go do his MS. ( You should listen to surya's dialogue in Vaaranam ayiram on this issue.. its hilarious.. but well ill make the MS issue my next blog)
Being a girl im going to concentrate on the gettin married part... A couple of my friends are engaged to be married.. if u see the exorbitant amount of money that goes into this whole wedding business you would be shocked. im sorry im still not able to wrap my head around it.
i agree tat marriage is a cause for celebration.. but at such costs? wouldn't it make more sense to give the money to the bride and the groom for their future or something..
I believe in traditions and all.. but tell me what is the point of having a nichayathartham twice ( as in once before and one before the day of the marriage)...
And dont even get me started on the whole janavasam stuff.. the poor groom in tat really slow car with pesky kids sittin around bickering...
The cost of feeding a sizable crowd for four meals is around 3 lakhs.. add the cost of renting the mandapam.. Add on the cost of transport, accommodation with the basic amenities and you are at 5-6 lakhs.
And why on earth should the bride have so many sarees.. what is the point?? I dont see her using most of those sarees.. My brother pointed out sometime back at another brother's engagement that his wife's sarees bought for her wedding were too grand for such a function.. My mother who has been married 22 yrs probably hasn't worn most of her wedding sarees more than five or six times..Its just neatly pressed and kept in the cupboard.And most importantly the cost of all the clothing purchased runs upto another lakh or two..
I understand the idea of thambulam but why be obliged to give that useless piece of blouse bit.. or some fancy Ganesha doll which i assure you is being handed out the next navarathiri.. The shopkeepers should have a return an undamaged blouse bit for money business. Would probably make a fortune out of it..
Then the reception.. why "Kutcheri"...Who is listening??? not more than 25 people.. I like carnatic music but in the wedding hall no...how is one supposed to enjoy the music with a zillion people chattering around...its just wasting money for what? Prestige? To say that famous singer was at my son/daughter's wedding?
Finally the jewelery..atleast that i concede are an asset and gold rarely ever loses value.. But what i concur from all this is you cant possibly have wedding if you dont have ten lakhs bank balance.
Dont you think its better to have a quiet ceremony in a temple and then have reception and get over with it???
