WEDDING @ WEBSITE. COM

WEDDING @ WEBSITE. COM

Tin cones filled with sugar-coated cashews and boondi had to be floated in water in order to save them from the ant brigade. The smell of coconut oil wafted in the air for weeks. Children were bribed with broken murukkus and Mysore paks.
Master cooks would walk in and out with endless lists. Each family had an uncle who would be the store- keeper for each and every wedding. All amateur artistic talent in the family circle had to be tapped for drawing kolams and for jadai alankaram (hairstyling). But these services were rendered out of love for the family and not love for lucre. And brides looked beautiful.
We have come a long way indeed. The present-day scenario is a queer mix of the old and the new. Several customs and traditions still stay on, but the work and services have been modernised. Attitudes and outlooks are changing, but the old still lingers on. Educated girls do get a better deal. I am talking about arranged marriages again.
Advertising for grooms and brides is very popular. The old fears and inhibitions in this regard no longer hold. In this age of commercials, matrimonial columns run into pages in both newspapers and journals. Girls and boys have great expectations indeed, but they profess to know what they want {?). In this age of liberalised markets, every adult, even second-hand ones can find his or her partner.
Coming to interviews, they are so informal today! You get to hear casual greetings. At the most it is a graceful namaskar (standing). Songs are out, so also sojji and bajji. Girls shoot questions and boys often look coy,
Several rounds of talks go on between the boy and the girl before they tie the proverbial 3 knots. Impressive biodatas change hands and naturally, anyone can dictate terms. Horoscopes are more for excuses. No doubt, there still are people who swear by these and there are those astrologers who can swing and sway things to suit anyone who pays them.