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SOCIETY
Wedding
planners come of age in India
New
Delhi: Most marriages some say are made in heaven,
but with the pace of modern life reaching mind-boggling
porportions, such events on earth these days require
the services of a wedding planner, and India is making
a mark in this field too. This was showcased at the
fifth edition of Bridal Asia which was held here last
week. Vandana Mohan, a wedding planner, who also owns
an event management company, defines wedding planning
as an outsourcing concept, given the impact of globalisation.
"The people come in the exhibitions from all the sections.
We don't set the standards for the wedding. You set
the standards and budget. We provide according to
the budget," said Vandana. "The demand for wedding
planners is gaining momentum. It is on the rise, mainly
because of the rise of nuclear families. Both members
are working. So, they have the money but they don't
have the time. Hence, the entire coordination which
earlier the family members were doing, are now done
by wedding planners," said Divya Gureara, CEO Bridal
Asia. The job of a wedding planner includes everything
from catering, mehndi, flower arrangement and decoration
to selecting the venue for the function. Their aim
is to provide a one-stop shop to their customers,
while providing them all the attention with elegance,
style and traditions at the same time. However, there
are people who still have reservations about this
new industry, especially when it comes to middle class
families. Such families, they say just don't have
the resources to hire wedding planners. "I think middle
class would not opt for wedding planners. Middle class
people would want to go for small weddings. Wedding
planning only suits the upper class, which can spend
money to have a lavish wedding," said Gunjan Virk,
a NIFT graduate, who showcased her design at Bridal
Asia. "Wedding planning is good only if you have the
resources. It gives you more persona; touch when you
do things yourself," said Nidhi Khaitan, who will
marry soon, but traditionally. -Sept
28, 2004
50
years on, and UP still swears by the zamindari system
Ferozabad: Who
says the Zamindari system has ended in the country.
At least two villages in Uttar Pradesh's Ferozabad
district have not done away with the feaudal way of
life. Rashidpur Kanetha and Dartani would be an eyesore
for most urban visitors, as its developmental process
is in shackles. Compared to other parts of the state,
no development has taken place in these two villages
since India achieved independence in August 1947.
The villagers own their respective lands, but can't
sell them or take loan on the same. "The entire village
is affected by the zamindari system. There is harassment
of all kinds. There is no facility of any kind and
no development at all. We don't even have a cremation
ground in the village. There is no area here where
our cattle can graze. The zamindar has always harassed
us. We raised our voices but to no avail," said Anar
Singh, head of Rashidpur Kanaitha. Bhagwan Singh,
a villager, said: "We are not gaining anything from
this zamindari system. We are very annoyed. What would
a farmer do? We don't get anything even after paying
the taxes. We are not literate. We don't get loans
for taking up any occupation as the zamindar has his
share over everything." Ironically, the zamindari
system was abolished from these two villages in 1989.
The "Bharat Stores Company", which claimed to be the
'zamindar' of the area were given the compensation.
However, the company managed to get stay orders from
the high court, allowing it to maintain ownership
rights over these two villages with the help of Zamindar
Choube Sudarshan Ram. Ferozabad's sub-divisional magistrate
Shatrughan Singh says the local administration is
helpless because of the stay order. "The administration
has always made efforts. We have never been able to
help the villagers. We have to obey the court rules,"
he said.
-Sept
23, 2004
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