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Simple Marriage and a Single Dish
By Seema Saleem
The Year 2005 has seen many young boys and girls tying the knot in Hyderabad. It used to be such fun attending marriages, but not anymore because of the new trends that are catching up. For example: in the invitation cards, the time for Nikah is mentioned 6.30 pm, while there is no trace of bride or bridegroom until 9.30 or 10.00 pm. By the time they are done with the nikah and the dinner starts, it is so late that people rush towards the dining hall to secure a seat. It is like playing musical chairs. Suddenly there is chaos everywhere. Kids, old people and diabetics suffer most as their routine is disturbed. The latest trend of organising weddings in outsized function halls and lush lawns that are situated mostly on the outskirts of the city is causing a burden on guests. Reaching there through heavy traffic jams is tiring.
But recently, I received a wedding invitation. Looking at the simple card and the final note on it, I knew it was going to be different. It was the marriage of the son of the secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (North Wing, Hyderabad). It was mentioned on the card that ‘inshallah the schedule will be kept up.’ I decided not to miss this function. Even though I tried hard to be there on time, I reached the venue half an hour late. The Maghrib prayer was offered with jamaat and the nikah was performed on the dot after a brief lecture on Nikah with Urdu translation.
The women’s section was separate, not even a ten-year-old boy was seen around. Dinner was on time and contrary to the regular chaos, the bride’s mother was escorting the guests to have dinner first. The dining hall was neat. But the most unusual aspect was the simple dinner- there was only one single item. A very delicious and piping hot biryani with mirchi ka salan and raita, followed by the traditional dabal ka meetha. What usually happens when a vast menu is served is that we are not able to savour any item thoroughly as just tasting the varieties fills us. And about the food that is wasted, the less said the better. When you try to do something against the set trends, people tend to appraise as well as criticise. I overheard a lady complaining, “what’s the use of coming all the way from home just to have a biryani”
I wish more people make marriages simple and affordable for the parents as well as the guests and also learn the value of time and be punctual.
(The writer can be reached at ssaleem123@rediffmail.com)
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