No
Special day
Marriage is the day in the life of a couple when they begin a new life together. Thus, people should not hesitate to spend money on this memorable day. While I agree that if one has wealth he or she should donate some to charity for the betterment of others, I think that spending it on this one special occasion does not make much difference.
Rishit Chanda,
Class IX, The Frank Anthony Public School, Calcutta
Boosts economy
First, weddings drive the economy. A survey reveals that the Indian wedding industry currently accounts for over Rs 1,00,000 crores with a rapid growth rate of 25 to 30 per cent each year. Second, weddings create employment for catering services, event management companies, makeup artistes, florists, musicians, photographers and so on. It creates a tremendous ripple effect in the society. Third, weddings need more tender loving care than most normal events. Hence, there is no right or wrong expenditure for a wedding. In addition, it offers people better experiences.
Nilanjan Adhikary,
Class XII, Burdwan Town School
Atithi Devo Bhava
A wedding indicates a milestone in the life of a couple. It is a moment of celebration. Abiding by the saying Atithi Devo Bhava or guest is god, the guests should not feel uncomfortable in any way during a wedding. This can only be ensured if money is spent extravagantly. One should spend freely because money may return someday but the moment never will.
Devesh Patodia,
Class XII, St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Calcutta
Decorations count
Arrangements and decorations are the main concern of a wedding and so spending money behind it is the right thing to do. A wedding happens only once in a lifetime and should be celebrated selflessly. It marks the time when two people meet and decide to spend the rest of their life together. It should be special.
Anuron Mullik,
Narula Institute of Technology, Calcutta
Yes
It is insensitive
Splurging on weddings in a country where a large percentage of the population suffers from extreme poverty is insensitive. In India, it also takes on a different dimension because it is usually the bride’s family that has to bear most of the expenses. This puts a great burden on people who are not well-off.
Harmanpreet Singh,
Class X, South Point High School, Calcutta
Such a waste
In this country, one in nine people goes to bed hungry each night but still splurging on weddings is common. People waste so much just to maintain social status. They should open their eyes and instead spend money on important things such as feeding the poor and educating the less fortunate.
Shah Fahad Azmi,
Syamaprasad College, Calcutta
Peer pressure
The reason for splurging on weddings is that parents are shamed if they do not do it. Some children too pressurise parents continuously to splurge to maintain their so-called status in society. Everyone should change this way of thinking. They should realise that if the money is spent on orphanages or old-age homes instead, the contribution would be remembered by the recipients as long as they live. Their blessings would ensure the newly-married couple a happy life.
Parnab Dey,
Kanchrapara College
Do the right thing
It is more important to understand the real essence of a wedding than show off to society. Instead, the money can be spent on poor orphaned children. In this time of economic crisis, our main object should be to spend hard-earned money on doing the right thing.
Trisha Sarkar ,
KPC MedicalCollege, Jadavpur, Calcutta
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