"4L for flowers, 8L for food, 5L for clothes......" this went on for a while, I felt a little giddy, I tried adding the money up, I gave up mid way... this was supposed be a budget of a simple wedding of a person I know..

I remember a small akbar-birbal story I read when I was young, Birbal was very upset that his wife had given birth to a girl child, when akbar asked him why he told that being a girl's father is tough, cos you have the responsibility of marrying her off, and its never easy for the girl's parents to please the other family, akbar promised him that he will take care of the wedding, after a few years, he kept up his promise, he made sure it was the most lavish wedding ever and no one ever got a chance to complain, he also had a pot full of gold coins, anyone could take as many gold coins as they wanted.. the day after the wedding akbar asked.. so what happened? Was everyone happy? to which birbal replied.. "Sir, some people complained that the neck of the pot was very narrow, they couldn't put in their hand properly and take many gold coins" Moral of the story.. you can't please everyone.. still people try!!

Weddings today have lost their meaning, the celebrations,preparations,arrangements are getting elaborate and the actual rituals are shirking and compromised! The educated brides and grooms of today have patience to sit for hours and hours to look perfect for their big day but the traditions and rituals associated with a wedding are boring and not practical! (me included)

I hate to attend weddings these days, fake smiles, tones of make up, sparkling gold jewelry,loud music, famous singers singing, VVIPS breaking the queue, impatient people, yummy food, sometimes not so yummy food, skinny priests chanting the same mantras,display of wealth in full force!! It has become like a everyday activity, I find no joy!! I only hope there is some joy left for the people who actually get married :P