‘Behind the scenes at an Indian Wedding’
Indians in general are deeply rooted in tradition. Our culture
gives us our identity. Most of us (especially those living away from the
homeland) cling to it, even though several aspects in these particularly modern
times, make no sense at all. Why do we do so? Perhaps because it brings
us together as a community and provides us comfort in a foreign environment.
The same I think applies to immigrants from all over the globe.
Marriages
in India, in particular Hindu marriages are long drawn intricate affairs
fraught with age old tradition. Little has changed over the centuries except
for certain embellishments due to modernization. To non-Indians these
ceremonies appear just that—elaborate colorful rituals flavored with plenty of
pomp and show.
In the following story I
take my readers on a ‘behind the scenes' tour at a
traditional Indian wedding. I’ve tried to illustrate the proceedings from
engagement to the wedding ceremony with “generalized” Indians---my characters,
and have also made an attempt to expound on the emotional upheavals that occur
in the background and often aren’t spoken out loud. Milan is more of a ‘short
story’ concept where it shows the before/during and after of an event than it
is a ‘long novel’ about characters with hopes and dreams and goals. And its
purpose is exactly that, to show the emotions Indian couples go through during
the process of a wedding. This story may help the reader get a better insight
into the culture of marriage in India
The
Setting of MILAN:
Whenever
I travel back to my homeland, I prepare for a culture shock. The crowds, the
noise, the pollution have all increased several fold as the country races
forward at breakneck speed to catch up with the rest of the world. There are very places left where it still seems like life
goes on as it did a few decades ago, where people are laid back and nature is
not at war with mankind.
MILAN is set in one such place; Coonoor-- a hill town located in the Nilgiri Hills,
about 56 kms from the Coimbatore Airport, in the southern Indian State of Tamil
Nadu. It
is part way from its more well-known cousin Ooty. I spent some time there
during my last trip and was so enchanted that I chose to use it as a setting
for my story. Known for its tea plantations, Coonoor is a lovely, rustic little
town. With its abundance of greenery and quaint architecture it is a throwback
to India as it used to be. The temperate climate and serene environment help
the restless soul to relax and take a few breaths of peace. When you are there,
don't forget to take a ride on the Nilgiris meter gauge train, as well as a
personalized tour of the tea estates.
I want to thank Debdatta for giving me this opportunity to
express myself and for hosting this blog tour. I also want to thank all the
bloggers who are participating in this tour and have made space for my book on
their blog. Your time and generosity is much appreciated.
Please visit my website http://simikrao.com/ for more info on me and
my work. You can also connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/simikrao
and twitter https://twitter.com/simikrao
Happy Reading!
Simi K. Rao
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