I went to take a look at the inner lanes of the city expecting to land on some good topic to write on. While simply taking a look at the handicraft items outside which a few old ladies were standing, I overheard their conversation which really made me stop there.

As per the latest news, people in J&K have been asked to abide by certain rules for weddings to keep a check on wastage of food. It is about a cut down of fat weddings where 500 guests can be invited for a daughter’s wedding and 400 for that of son.

Now if we see the detailed news, it will tell us so much about what needs to be done which sounds really appropriate. These grannies that I am talking about seemed to be the most worried hearts on earth. It is quite understandable that everyone has lots of dreams when it comes to weddings of their grand children. But with the breaking news, their hearts seemed almost broken, their enthusiasm for the wedding faded away.

“How can we cut down on the wedding like this? How can they decide to cut down on the food variety? If we follow what they say, humari izzat ka kya hoga? Samaj mein koi izzat hai ki nahin humari?”  They kept on talking about all this which was more of a prestige point for them. Since long, they have seen weddings being arranged in the large household. For them, weddings are synonymous to pomp and show, to variety, to extravagant shopping.

But isn’t this step by J&K government a really good one? Shouldn’t we all be thinking of something short and sweet? In any case, the kinds of professions people are in now-a-days; the need for those short moments and less expense is what time calls for. What say you?

If the variety of food is cut down to a few good dishes, and compulsorily, will that not be a boon on the pocket? Now if only show-off develops izzat, then there is alot more to say on it.

SO, why to have too many varieties of dishes in the weddings when it creates a lot of wastage?  If the amount spent on the weddings can actually be invested into an FD for the newlyweds as a gift, won’t that be sensible?

These ladies also talked about the need of gifts to be given in the weddings to the guests and relatives who would remember the particular occasion for ever. Now that is again an extravagant expense that we all do, which actually is not needed. The real customary system of gifts in families is actually gone, what happens now is more of a status building. Frankly, no one remembers after sometime what came from where and usually gifts fall into a rotation system.

The dresses may be a dream for any bride but what happens to those designer outfits later? Only the most comfy ones are used, rest are deposited in cupboards. (That is one point where we need to do justice to ourselves and buy what we will wear)

All said and done, we need to cut down on the wedding budget as this doesn’t form a couple’s future. The wastage is a dent on the pocket which may result in a drop-down in the mental peace of the families. Borrowing is easy, repaying is not.

Your gracious comments are invited for this (I know a lot will not agree with my views). Maybe we can make a difference somewhere.