My Big Fat Indian Wedding

To a foreigner it's easy to scoff at such extravagance, to chalk it up to nouveau-riche impulses given free rein. Certainly, an element of social peacockery does come into play—but that alone does not account for the phenomenon. After all, impressing the neighbors is hardly a uniquely Asian concern, and there are more enduring ways to telegraph your wealth than an ephemeral celebration.

The deeper motivation stems from the country's distinct social customs. While the West tends to focus on the individual, in India the family is of paramount importance, followed closely by membership in various ethnic and religious communities. An over-the-top wedding is an opportunity to bring together all these people under one supersize tent and to celebrate the core values that define Indian society. It is an occasion for joy, not just for the bride and groom but for all 25,000 of their closest relatives and friends.

© 2008