But beneath the glitter and festivities, there are some harsh facts that people are not willing to look in the eye. It all starts with the infamous dowry demands. Then come the gold, silver land and so on. Some people prefer hard cash, others go for property They stop at nothing to state in explicit terms, what exactly they expect from the girl's side. And their greed knows no bounds.
There is nothing to justify this behaviour but even if one argues that the parents belong to an older generation and have grown up with the wrong ideas, how can one explain such ignorance on the part of the educated sons who belong to this generation?
There is of course a proper dowry scale, much like a pay scale. And this is the most ironical thing. The more educated they are, the more they demand. A doctor, for instance, expects a lot more than a bank clerk. One would think that a higher education brings decency and better values but obviously it doesn't.
This is not to say that all young men get married this way. There are some out there who are cultured and decent. Such men set a good example but you can count them on your fingers.
In some cases, the demands continue even after the marriage and eventually eat into their relationships. What they don't realize is that not only are they hurting someone else, but essentially degrading themselves beyond measure.
A marriage is coming together of two people to share their lives. To standby each other at all times, in happiness and sorrow. It is about love, understanding and friendship. It is an idea built on sublime ideals and is something to be respected and cherished.
It's a choice everyone of us faces. We can either jump in the bandwagon and make the usual demands like everyone else. Or we can stand apart, reflect for a moment and do the right thing. And be proud of it.