Ssujata Mehta: Marriages have become a social media spectacle

She adds, “In recent years, I have noticed that many marriages don’t last. In the past, marriages tended to endure, whether the partners got along or not. But now, marriages can dissolve within a month. Parents invest so much effort and money to see their children married, yet some people break it off within weeks. In one community, I even heard of a marriage ending at the mandap itself.” She says that the bond of marriage should be sacred and people should not forget the spiritual relevance in festivities. 

“In Indian culture, marriages hold significant importance, whether people live in urban or rural areas. Many factors are at play. Today, marriages often involve a lot of show and comparison with others. It’s a personal choice, but I feel that with so much money involved, marriages should ideally last. Additionally, parents sometimes have unfulfilled desires, as weddings in their time weren’t as extravagant, so they wish to celebrate their children’s weddings in a grand way. There are events like the mehndi, sangeet, haldi, cocktail parties, pre-wedding parties, post-wedding parties, and more. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I’ve seen mothers asking beauticians to make their daughters’ makeup or styling resemble a particular celebrity. Some brides are naturally beautiful and don’t need so much makeup, but they want to emulate a celebrity-inspired look. People even rent costumes and jewelry to showcase extravagance. While everyone has the right to celebrate their wedding, the significance often fades quickly these days,” she says. 

She adds, “Marriages have become a social media spectacle, and everyone wants theirs to be the best in their community. So much money is spent on pre-wedding shoots. I wonder why people feel the need to imitate. Additionally, the traditional Indian touch is often missing in today’s weddings. So much food is wasted, with elaborate six-course meals, high tea, and drinks served only for show. I am strongly against this; instead, there should be limited, high-quality food.”