Jammu, May 3 -- There was a time when the arrival of a wedding procession wasn't just a celebration of one family visiting another, but a celebration for the entire village. Homes and courtyards were decorated, feasts were set up, songs were sung, elders offered blessings, and hospitality was considered a matter of honor. Today, in many places, that same wedding procession has become so confined to the time clock that the entire event seems to be transformed into a "go quickly, eat quickly, hand over the envelope, and return quickly."
This shift isn't just about food or ceremony style; it signals a transformation in social relationships, collectivism, and the very essence of Indian wedding culture. Marriage used to be a long-term social pr...