Extravaganza in J&K Marriages Disturbing

                                                                          

It is very unfortunate,ironic and disturbing that people in Jammu and Kashmir have been spending lavishly and extravaganza in marriages is a social,cultural and economic malady through which J&K is passing from the last few decades and it points towards the sad state of affairs in marriages in this region which had been famous for simplicity and penny -fisted and they were spending on the marriages of their sons and doctors wisely and judiciously and never did make a show of the marriages.But from some years the situation is significantly different as people are seen spending lavishly without thinking about those people in the society who eat from hand to mouth and so they are forced to imitate the affluent members of the society,with the result their economic condition worsens further and thus extravaganza in marriages is a scourge which has afflicted our society and caught us unawares and we have been trapped in this ,malice of extravaganza which is in fact alien to our culture but alas we are falling prey to lavish spending on marriages.We are caught in this vicious cycle of extravaganza and think it our status and symbol of superiority to spend lavishly on the marriages.It is a socio-cultural problem and needs to be discouraged for the interest of the sacredness of the institution of marriage but alas ! we have polluted this institution and robbed it of its Chastity.Let us not imitate the affluent members of our society and revert back to the good old days and embrace and practise austerity in marriages and free ourselves from the malice of extra-spending and over -spending beyond our means and not allow ourselves to be trapped in the scourge of excessive spending in marriages and save our economic and financial present and future. Marriage  has traditionally been regarded as a sacred institution in Jammu and Kashmir.,symbolizing  the union of two families rather than a vulgar display of wealth.In the past ,weddings were marked by simplicity,community participation,and cultural tradition.However,in recent years,an alarming trend of extravanza has emerged ,turning  marriages  into expensive  social spectacles.This growing culture of lavish spending deserves serious attention, because it is creating financial,social, and psychological problems that affect families across all sections of society.

One of the major reasons behind this trend is the desire to maintain social status.Families often compete with relatives,neighbours,and friends by organising grand wedding functions ,booking luxurious banquet halls,serving dozens of dishes,hiring expensive decorators, sand purchasing costly jewellery, and designer clothing.Social media has further intensified this harmful competition ,with families striving to make weddings appear  more glamorous than others.

The consequences of this trend are very severe .Many middle-class  and lower -middle income families borrow heavily or sell land ,jewellery or other valuable assets to finance weddings.Some remain head on in debts and are burdened with borrowed money for years together.Instead of beginning married life with financial security ,many newly married couples  inherit the economic strain created by unnecessary expenditure which many incur due to demonstrational effect from rich people.

The pressure to organize lavish weddings also creates emotional stress.Parents,particularly  those with daughters ,often feel compelled  to spend beyond their means to avoid social criticism.This unhealthy competition  increases anxiety and reinforces  outdated  social expectations.It also indirectly encourages the evil of dowry ,as expensive gifts and displays of wealth  becomes routine and normalised.

Extravagant  weddings are widening the gap between the rich and the poor.Families with limited income feel inferior when they cannot match the lavish celebrations  of afflunt  households.As a result ,marriages are  increasingly  judged  by the scale of expenditure  rather than by the values of love, compatibility ,and mutual respect.

Another disturbing aspect is the enormous wastage of food.Large quantities of prepared food are often discarded  after wedding  feasts ,while many people in society  continue to struggle for basic needs.Such wastage of food and cousins is bad for a poor region and our UT.Such waste  is both  economically  and morallyb  unacceptable.Similarly ,excessive use of electricity,decorations,fireworks, and disposable plastic items  contribute to environmental degradation.

Jammu and Kashmir has always valued simplicity,dignity,and community harmony.These values should not be sacrificed  for temporary  social prestige.Religious teachings  across faiths also emphasize  moderation and discouraging wasteful expenditure.A marriage  should be remembered for the blessings of elders  and the happiness of the couple ,not for the amount of money spent.Discouraging extravaganza does not mean   eliminating celebrations.Rather,it means promoting  responsible and meaningful  celebrations.Society should encourage simple marriages ,limited guest lists ,modest catering, and avoidance of unnecessary rituals that increase costs as that is a big burden on the families of limited resouerces.Community  organisations ,religious leaders,civil society ,and educational institutions  should launch awareness campaigns  highlighting  the social and economic benefits of simple weddings.The government can also play a constructive role by  encouraging mass marriages,promoting  anti-food-waste initiatives, and ensuring  that public  venues  are affordable. Incentives  for simple marriages  and public recognition  of families  that conduct dignified ,low -caste weddings can gradually  help change social attitudes.

Young people ,too , have an important  responsibility.They should reject the notion  that an expensive wedding is a symbol of prestige and success.Instead they should prioritize  education,financial stability , and mutual understanding over lavish ceremonies.A modest  wedding  followed by a secure  and prosperous  married life is far more meaningful than  an extravagant  celebration that leaves families in debt. The young people should prioritise education,financial independence,emotional compatability,and long -term  stability  over short lived stability and display of grandeur.A modest wedding  followed by a secure and peaceful  married life is far more  meaningful than an  extravagant  celebration that leaves  families burdened with debt and regret. In short ,the growing  extravaganza in marriages  in J&K is not merely a personal choice but is a serious social problem  with -ranging  consequences.It promotes financial  hardships ,social inequality, emotional stress,environmental damage,,and wasteful consumption ,while undermining the traditional values of simplicity,dignity, and mutual respect.The need of the hour is to revive  and strengthen  the culture of modest weddings ,where the focus remains on the sacred bond of marriage  rather than the display of wealth.A simple marriage is not the sign of poverty,it is a reflection of wisdom,responsibility, and respect for society.