Thanks to Steel magnate Laxmi Mittal and his billions, people all around the world know how big an Indian wedding can be. Hiring nothing less than the VersaillesPalace for his daughter’s wedding was really over the top but then when a billionaire wants to flaunt his billions who can stop him?

The traditional Indian Hindu wedding ceremony varies in different parts of the country. Just like the diversity of regions and people in the Indian subcontinent, wedding rituals and traditions vary too.

My family hails from the commercial capital of Mumbai where everyone is always in a rush. No wonder than the priests find an easy way out and do all rituals as fast as they possibly can. After all who has the time to spend days on a rituals which can be wrapped up within an hour? The smaller towns of Maharashtra obviously have more time and energy and weddings would traditionally be a two or three day affair.

Last week I realised how out of date I am. It’s been 25 years since my marriage and obviously things have changed along the way. I would have thought that modern education and progress would mean that youngsters do away with elaborate rituals. But then I forgot the new tie which binds Indians from North to South and East to West… Hindi films and Indian television serials. Yes believe it or not wedding fashions and customs are being taken straight from TV.

A Maharashtrian wedding used to be a simple solemn affair. Now suddenly it is a four or five day affair with traditions like Sangeet and Mehendi firmly entrenching themselves as part of the rituals.

A typical Maharashtraion wedding would begin with a Seemant Pooja the night before the wedding. This actually dates back to the times when the groom’s family would come from another village and the bride’s family would go to greet them at the border of the village. The following morning the rituals would begin with the priest explaining the importance of marriage, the steps around the sacred fire, the tying of the mangalsutra (the marriage thread) and the couple garlanding each other at the time of the Muhurat (auspicious time).

A few days before the wedding the bride’s mother and the groom’s mother would have a “Dev Devak” pooja in their respective homes, Signifying the beginning of all wedding ceremonies. Usually at this time married women are specially invited and served a special lunch to mark the auspicious occasion. The Haldi (turmeric) applying ceremony usually takes place on the morning of the seemant pooja.

The advent of the TV serial has now led to the addition of a mehendi (henna applying)ceremony and a special sangeet (musical)programme becoming part of the wedding festivities. What used to be a gathering of women in the house and friends applying mehendi has become a more elaborate event. If the budget allows it is often managed by an event manager who ropes in a well known DJ for the evening.

Food plays a big part in an Indian wedding. If the food is of poor quality you can be sure that guests will term the entire event a big let down.

A traditional Maharashtrian wedding will serve only pure vegetarian food. The night before the wedding the meal is usually lighter, probably because the next day it is sure to be a heavy meal. So Khicchadi and Kadi, is popular.

On the day of the wedding there will be a dry vegetable, pulses, a curry, a salad, accompaniments such as pickles, chutneys. Papads, pakoras, the special pulao rice and of course the sweet which is served along with the meal. The season dictates the choice of sweet and in the month of may it is bound to be “aamras” (Mango pulp) served with puris.

The community I belong to is very fond of non vegetarian food. So a week of eating vegetarian food is often unbearable for die hard non-vegetarians. The day after the wedding after all the ceremonies are done with we have a “Thikhti” , literal translation spicy food i.e. mutton curry! So all the plugs are pulled out and drinks and non vegetarian food is served with much gusto.

Last week my niece got married. I learned that after a week of celebration, of just getting dressed up and sitting around and of course eating lots and lots of food one can get pretty tired too!!