Dr. Bharat Desai's Blog

With modernisation and the advancement of civilization, some bad manners have been added to our society. Wedding invitation style is one of them. In the past, wedding invitation was extended to all the members of the family and for all the events of that wedding function. Unfortunately, these days the same is not followed.

આપણે લગ્નને પવિત્ર બંધન માનીએ છીએ અને લગ્ન દ્વારા આપણે બે કુટુંબોનો સંબંધ બાંધીએ છીએ. ભાગીને દોડાદોડીમાં કરાતાં લગ્નને બાદ કરીએ તો લગ્ન એક ખૂબ વિધિપૂર્વક ભપકાથી ઘણા બધા સગાં-સંબંધીઓ અને મિત્રોની હાજરીમાં થતાં હોય છે. લગ્ન એક ધાર્મિક વિધિ છે – તેથી હિન્દુ, મુસ્લિમ, પારસી, કે ખ્રિસ્તી જેવા દરેક ધર્મોમાં વિધિ જુદી જુદી હોય છે. આ વિધનો અભ્યાસ અને જાણ રસ ધરાવતા લોકોને થાય તે માટે રસિકજને અને અભ્યાસી વ્યક્તિ એ શરૂથી અંત સુધી પરંપરાગત લગ્નવિધિ સાક્ષીભાવે જોવું જોઈએ. દરેક ધર્મમાં લગ્નવિધિ બે કે તેથી વધારે વ્યક્તિઓ જેને બ્રાહમણ, મુલ્લા, પંથકી, કે ફાધર દ્વારા ધર્મના શસ્ત્રોનો આધાર લઈ વાંચીને, જે તે ધર્મના ભગવાનની પ્રાર્થના કરી ભગવાનને હાજર માની પરસ્પરને પ્રતિજ્ઞાપૂર્વક ખાત્રી આપીને કરવામાં આવે છે – તો ચાલો, આપણે ખ્રિસ્તી ધર્મવિધિ જાણીએ.

While attending my niece Khushbu’s wedding (Dr Hirak Desai’s daughter) at a party plot in Valsad, my other niece Guddi (Mrunmayi Janak Desai) suddenly coined the phrase 'destination wedding'. My vocabulary evolved with a new phrase, with a special meaning. It is a special type of wedding hosted at a location, usually far away from home. Here, the guests reach the venue and stay for a couple of days with all the people involved in the wedding celebration. The hosts plan the wedding and send the invitation with the details of stay, events, dress code and explaining the rituals planned to be followed. Yes, this is the same conventional wedding we’ve always seen, but with creative ideas of enjoying, dancing, playing games and simultaneously conducting the wedding in an authentic manner. It is a bit costly affair for the hosts, but I’m sure they are prepared for it.

In Greece, there is a law about marriages. It forces you to give a detailed advertisement of marriage decision telling about both bride and groom.... one month in advance, in the newspaper. I think this exercise gives you time to reconsider regarding the prudence of your decision. You may analyse your said partner and think about compatibility. Then the chances of cancelling the decision are more. Or readers of the news may warn you about the drawbacks of the said partner, leading to no marriage at the said place.

Destination Wedding : It is a wedding event generally held far away from residences of the would-be couple. Here, the wedding is hosted in a location where guests have to travel long to reach the said wedding place... the DESTINATION. Guests are expected to stay long for the event. Places are usually grand like Palace, Resort, Beach. In India, Goa, Udaipur and some resorts near Mumbai are typically considered. It is one's imagination and choice. Elopement : This is a way of getting married... often unexpectedly... without inviting guests to the wedding. Usually, such weddings are without consent and/or knowledge of the parents. Such weddings, when informed to relatives, are often a surprise.