Of family functions and relatives!

Marriages!!
Recently a close relative of mine got married. And obviously associated with it was a grand wedding with scores of traditions and customs. But something good about these marriages is not only the excellent food (that you get to eat on unlimited basis with relatives crying around on about how you have lost and should be eating) but also all the old relatives and family friends you get to see. No wonder the hot question of the day becomes ‘do you remember me??’ ;) and for people brought up outside the confines of their hometown the response is limited to a sheepish smile. I cannot help but agree when elders start complaining about our generation by saying that we don’t care about the elders and the rest, but what can we do, we get to see everyone just like once or twice our whole life and remembering everyone becomes like an Herculean task. But then past forgotten many do introduce themselves or if you stick with your parents they may. Then some start pointing off at you and saying “oh!!! Is it so and so’s child?? Oh! My god!! You’ve become so big!! I saw you when you were that small (pointing to a kiddie)”, “how have become so thin!!”(Although you may resemble a baby hippo, the comment doesn’t vary) and so on and so forth. But then after all these functions are seriously golden opportunities to meet all the close and far relatives, meet all old friends, enlarge your friends circle, discuss all old gossip, catch up on all those close and dear and so much more…

A big family function means all relatives flying in from all corners of the world and getting to see all the young and old under the same roof is definitely a once-in-a-life-time opportunity. Everyone taking time out of his or her busy schedules and spending a day together is definitely rare and a much sought after opportunity. No wonder all the grannies are always very excited to see all the new additions into the ever-extending family tree.

Now coming to the curse of the advances in technology in today’s marriages. I believe there aren’t so many customs as many as the photographer invented to get maximum coverage of the bride. The bride was made to do god know’s what all so that they could get her snaps in all lights and angles. After that we were also made to sit with her with a betel nut leaf on her hand, and all her aunts were made to come and pose with mehendi cone on that leaf. Even the older relatives had no clue about that custom but all of us had to abide by the whims and fancies of the photographers. They had total control for the whole function, ordering where every one had to be and so on. Hope all the pics turn out great. But after all this I see the pain underwent by a bride, the photo sessions alone get so taxing, plus all the preparation behind it can definitely get on your nerves!

Another thing I’ve felt during a marriage is that all the people around don’t trust leaving their valuables back home and tug it along draping themselves with all the yellow metal possessed by them giving bappi-da (and even the bride) a complex! So all you budding thieves the best place to get some fast cash could abduct some guest (the bride is left for obvious reasons). Just kidding!!;) But then in a marriage every where is total glitter…

Getting a function right is a big responsibility in itself as your single-handedly responsible for getting the whole family together and giving them a great time. So people never lose an opportunity to meet the old and dear as the you know the saying goes ‘kya pata kal ho na ho!’