Bollywood Weddings—Dating, Engagement, and Marriage in Hindu America.
By Kavita Ramdya
Ever wonder what other South Asian brides are thinking when deciding between a traditional ceremony and an undoubtedly western one? Kavita Ramdya apparently thought so and put pen to paper with her newly released book: Bollywood Weddings—Dating, Engagement, and Marriage in Hindu America. Within its profound pages, readers find real-life examples of brides struggling with issues such as what color dress to wear, whether or not to host a Mehndi party and how exactly to handle the exchange of the rings. Ramdya delves deep into minds of modern Hindu brides while dissecting and examining traditional Hindu customs and western traditions. In the book, readers meet couples such as Hamsa and Nalin who held a traditional ceremony and Tom and Sachi who held both a Hindu ceremony and a civil one complete with a Vera Wang gown and Crane’s stationary. More than that, Ramdya expands her research and begins the book at the beginning of the whole process: examining how an Indian woman selects a partner. The book starts with the story of Rati, who leaves her white boyfriend for lack of compatibility and eventually marries Shiv, a suitable Hindu boy. Additionally, Ramdya approaches the subject of love vs arranged marriages in a thoughtful and modern way citing websites as Shaadi.com and magazines such as Bibi. Over all, Bollywood Weddings provides matter-of-fact insight supported by data, methodology, a glossary and real-life examples of Hindu-American relationships in the context of marriage. An interesting book, no doubt, and recommended to all South Asian readers.
