From the third to fourth week of Lent we notice that the marriage bands are read out. In the past too it has been a tradition soon after Easter, the season of the sacrament of marriage begins. When we say marriage, the marriage bands have become a difficulty. At times it is time consuming and a long list of 20 plus and sometimes more than that in bigger parishes for Sunday masses… a lot of people have different views on the reading of marriage bands plus the long sermons. His Holiness Pope Francis advises not to preach beyond 10-12 minutes for Sunday mass and 2-3 minutes for daily mass.
The sacrament of marriage has become the talk of the town for varied reasons – good and those that need attention! Yes, let’s begin with the bookings of the hall. It’s not the marriage date that is fixed first rather on the availability of the hall that too two years before the marriage; if the first choice not then the second and third… accordingly the date is fixed with a lump sum amount of Rs 50,000 as advance! Fifty thousand rupees for two years as advance without calculating the interest! When we say hall it is only the place that you pay for! The tables, the chairs, the lights, decorations you have to shell out more…
Then the craze for bands. These too goes with booking in advance especially those bands who charge heavily take advance.. not less than a Rs 1 lakh without mentioning their names? That too for 3–4 hours from 7 pm -11 pm, we know how much it begins on time. After the bands comes the MC (master of Ceremonies)!, nothing less than Rs 20,000. Every family has the youth who are studying in good Institutions or Schools and Colleges. Why can’t the youth take a challenge of becoming MC, practise at home; surf on the net and look out for motivating thoughts and ideas and save the family from spending quarter of the lakh?
Now it’s the shelling out on photo shoots. The additional photo shoots after the nuptials or Laudate! These shoots on the beach or under a tree or besides the Jaguar, Audi or BMW! Only to empty the pockets of the bridal couples not realising the outcome of the shoots the bill not less than Rs 2 lakh! This is not the end; the hair dresser’s fees …Rs 25,000? Who is responsible for these exorbitant fees!
The celebration is incomplete without the buffet. Oh so many dishes laid with beautiful garnishing, decorations and with a spice of cocktails too! Yet, it is sad to see so much of food being wasted. People will not just come (xinn pavounk) and go but sit and dine with you!
Rinn kaddun lakhannim lognak moddtat ani jivit bhor kazari jivit, rinn farik kortat!
And last but not the least the amazing troupe of the brides’ maids, the best men, the flower girls and the page boys. The meaning and the sacredness of the brides’ maid and the best man is lost. Its significance and importance has lost its beauty. There was a troupe of 23 and counting the bridal couple 25. Looking out for space and place to sit. Let our families be modelled after the heart of the Family of Nazareth and look out to have weddings with the minimal externals but focus on that which will bind the bridal couple with eternal fidelity.
