Cultural Evolution: Indian Wedding Ceremonies Today

 

 Indian Wedding Ceremonies Today: fusion of tradition and modernity

 

        As time moves, there will be significant changes in material and cognitive cultures. Changes in culture bring in new patterns and create various dimensions to life . Growth and innovation as the features of evolution, generations' shifts, are unavoidable and essential. 

We have been into the 21^st century now. with cutting edge technology innovation,shifting from 20^th to 21^st century is like stepping into a surrealistic world for most of the older generation.  Technology has shrunk  time and space, speeding up things unprecedentedly. After globalization, with the increased closeness, the world culture is reshaping in a new way. To compete or to accommodate to the changing times becomes very challenging and herculean task for our generation as everything moved very slowly during our times.

Last some years were hectic.  A series of marriages took place among the close families  and friends. All boys and girls, whom we had seen playing with soft toys yesterday, have now grown suddenly into beautiful and handsome adults. How time shifted, we did not realize! There was joy and exuberance in the air as the marriages got fixed and arrangements began. Elders in the family used to have meetings to discuss the details of the marriage ceremonies. As the arrangements were being made, my mind was racing on  different lines --a comparison between yesterday and present days' marriages. The marriage ceremonies have evolved very elegantly and differently in recent years, fusing  tradition and modernity, accommodating the north and south Indian ceremonial elements, creating more participatory, enjoyable, and spectacular space for everyone in the family and friends.  In south India,the marriage ceremonies earlier were very simple minus any pomp, with limited instrumental music [ Mainly Shahanayi] highlighting only the main events during the marriage ceremony. There were couple of Hindi film songs from Rajesh Khanna’s film which were suitable for the occasions and the songs would be played in every marriage.

Indian weddings have been shaped very  aesthetically these days.  May be globalization, free market, consumerism and economic growth – all have contributed to the new versions . There is a remarkable shift  in  marriage ceremonies, from religious and sacred rites to multi-layered experiences. Now, experience becoming core object, weddings have become more elaborate and enjoyable, entailing Pre-Wedding photo- shoot, Mehandi, Sangeet and Reception.

  Pre- Wedding Photo-Shoot, a common feature nowadays, is usually shot at an idyllic location, in elegant costumes which reflect the filmy taste and trends. The person behind the lens also directs the young couple to pose in filmy romantic ways, as a film director. Titanic film’s signature pose is a must in every pre- wedding shoot along with other famous Bollywood film poses. The whole narrative is constructed to create personal identities of the couple and to provide scope for the couple to know each other better, much before the final ceremony.

The marriage was taking place. I was among the audience. Two large scale digital screens were mounted on either side of the dais, and the previously done photo-shoot was going on the screens uninterrupted. My eyes were switching between the screens, and my ears simultaneously following tunes of the latest regional film songs which matched the flow of shoot. I thought life is certainly oscillating between film and reality. Earlier the influence of films reflected only in fashioning clothes, hair styles and mannerisms. But now it has evolved and elevated to performance.

Mehandi and Sangeet ceremonies too have become regular features in south India, a new trend passed on from north India. I think this fusion is good because earlier there were no music, no song, and no dance in the marriage ceremonies. The collective dancing and singing during Mehandi and Sangeet ceremonies have added beauty and elegance to the ceremonies.  It is really enjoyable and cathartic. Even the Baarat has become more colorful with music and dancing. Singing and dancing have blended into these wedding ceremonies seamlessly, generating lot of exuberance and providing scope and space for emoting.

Considering the fashion in weddings, Bollywood, kolliwood, and sandalwood – all seem to have confluenced. International film trends are also blended seamlessly to get a distinct spectacle. Nowadays, it is all pastiche—be it fashion, music or food. Every girl  and boy try to present herself/himself  as a film star. Flowing embellished gowns, handcrafted blouses, heavy jewelry, and shiny eye liners, the smell of saints --all  look surreal. Glitz and glamour all around .

 An array of photographers flashing lights continuously blocked the view of the center stage. A half –dozen drones were hovering overhead. The whole ceremony, I felt, was like a film --the  gap between film and life zeroing on.

 

            Now, food curating has a precedence and prominence in all weddings.  Global cuisines and local Chaats are blended to cater to hosts of all stratas. Global cuisines reflect modern, sophisticated cosmopolitan look, whereas Chaats reflecting regional identities give a rooted  and emotional connectivity. Food has its own language and identity.   A fine blend of south, north, east and west cuisines of India has been normalized in the weddings, and embellished with an array of global cuisines.  A flow of Chaats like Pani-Puri, Pakoda and so on is must during the Mehandi Programme. A special attention is required in arranging the Chaats as young and old enjoy it. Ultimately, it is food that makes the weddings successful and memorable.

Destination weddings have become common now. People are choosing spaces like hotels,resorts and palaces for the destination wedding.Under  Event management--  everything  gets arranged  –printing,publicity,photography, accommodation, transportation, food, security and many more. Only thing is one must be ready to shell out the money. Destination marriages provide a space for relatives and guests to know one another leisurely as they are staying together in one place without any disturbances. Secondly, as they closely celebrate the event together, it leads to a collective memory. Life experiences and lived experiences matter a lot these days

This is only a brief account of Indian wedding ceremonies. This evolution shows how and to what extent globalization has influenced directly and indirectly, each and every nook of the world. If anyone like to view an Indian wedding ceremony, one can go through these movies listed below:

Monsoon Wedding, Hum Apke Hai Koun, Band Baaja Baaraat, 2 States                        

Let me know how you want marriage ceremonies to evolve in future.