Ladies And Gentlemen, For Your Consideration..

On a Sunday morning, a friend of mine called and invited me to accompany him to a matrimonial get-together organized by a social organization. Normally, I don't find the idea of social gatherings appealing, but since it was my friend who would be facing the crowd, I agreed to join him. Situations can be exciting when they don't directly involve or impact you. I cautioned him to call me only if he truly had no one else to accompany him, as I didn't possess any skills for socializing. He assured me that it was fine and even joked about using me as a decoy.

Despite lounging comfortably in my home's cool breeze with just my underwear on, I made the sacrifice of leaving my comfort zone and braving the scorching heat of 40+ degrees outside to "help" my friend in distress.

I arrived at the event location where I became his "surrogate brother" for the three hours we spent in a less-than-cozy but well-ventilated hall. The hall was filled with approximately 120 boys and girls, along with their parents and families, hailing from various parts of Maharashtra and currently residing in Pune for work.

The organizers called four girls and two boys at a time onto the stage. Each person had to loudly announce their name, education, job details, horoscope details, expectations from a partner, registration number, and contact number to the large crowd of around 400 people. Those who found someone suitable would note down the registration IDs or contact numbers to arrange one-on-one meetings later.

As a trusted ally, I played my role by taking careful notes on behalf of my friend, who seemed nervous about going on stage in front of the crowd and the possibility of fainting.

Initially, the entire concept seemed absurd and somewhat offensive (possibly influenced by the recently watched movie Django Unchained). However, as I spent more time there, I realized that it was a far more efficient approach than the traditional kande-pohe system.

Here are a few reasons why this method seemed preferable:

1. It allows individuals to consider at least 50 options in a single day, saving them countless weekends and the effort put in by their parents.

2. Beyond the biodata, it offers an opportunity to observe potential partners in terms of their appearance, manner of speaking, and overall demeanor, which cannot be determined solely from a written profile.

3. It is more cost effective than individual home visits, which involve expenses like travel costs, the time of each family member, emotional investment, and even providing kande-pohe-tea to the entire visiting team.

4. My friend identified five profiles of interest and was able to meet the girls and their families at the event itself. Despite initial skepticism, he later mentioned that it was a wise decision to participate.

Credit goes to the organizers of such events. While some aspects, like the on-stage introductions in front of a large crowd, may not be ideal, there is no perfect way to handle these matters. When we cease criticizing and approach them rationally, things often appear less daunting than they initially seemed.

picture courtesy - the internet. Nothing personal. :)