The matrimonial sections in the Indian sunday papers are endlessly entertaining. I'm looking at them a lot these days as I made the mistake of promising to find a husband for one of Anu's cousins! The matrimonials are helpfully divided into headings according to caste and sub-caste: Agarwal, Bisa Agarwal, Jat, Arora, Brahmin, etc. Religions are also categorised: Christian, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Muslim etc. So are ethnicities: Punjabi, Assamese, Tamil, Telegu, Sindhi, Maratha. There are also sections for Divorcees and Widows, N.R.Is (Non-Resident Indians), Green Card holders, Doctors, MBA/Professionals, those seeking a Second Marriage, and Architects.
All the papers also include a dedicated section for ‘Mangliks’. A Manglik (check out this link) is someone who has a bad star sign. Manglik’s are supposed to marry fellow Mangliks (I guess that way they get to share each other’s misfortune). Should a Manglik wish to marry a non-Manglik things get complicated. They must first go to a temple and marry either a tree (oak, banyan, whatever) or a golden idol. It is believed that the tree or the idol will absorb the Manglik’s bad karma leaving he or she free to marry a fellow human being.
Here are a few matrimonial advertisements from Sunday’s papers:
‘South Delhi based high status Agarwal business family seeks alliance for their homely, slim, beautiful, vegetarian & cultured daughter MBA from USA schooling and college from one of Delhi’s best institutions. July 76/5”1’50 KG (looks much younger). Engaged in business. Not inclined to professional career. Boy main consideration. Caste no bar.’
‘A very affluent Agarwal reputed family invites alliance for their beautiful sharp featured, Gori, NM, talented MD Doctor girl 29/158. Looking for professionally qualified Doctor/Industrialist boy…’
‘Cultured Puran Gurusikh business family seeks alliance for their good looking, sweet natured daughter, 29/5’05” MBA working with an MNC. Match should be from Sursikh/clean shaven Proff. Qualified well settled in business professional from Delhi or overseas. Call in confidence.’
‘Clean shaven Sikh katri family seek alliance for professionally qualified clean shaven Sikh Arora/Khatri family for their Manglik daughter. Pls send bio data, photo horoscope, no dowry.’
‘Tall, handsome, very fair (gora) and non-manglik boy from Sherwood College, Nanital B. Com and IBM Diploma Software engineering from New Delhi. Only son of highly placed well recognised family. Girl should be convented, very fair (gora), really very beautiful. Family should be cultured. Caste no bar. Contact with biodata, photo, family background, etc.’
TH
HAHAHAH put one in the paper for me and show mommy the responses, maybe she'll finally leave me alone!
Posted by: Jatin | December 19, 2006 at 06:32 PM
This is a great article about marriage.
Posted by: Roberto Alvarez-Galloso | December 11, 2006 at 07:13 PM
behind every matrimonial ad there lies a story .It indicates that parents were unable to find the match,the relatives are of no help,the girl or boy are unable to find the match or are forbidden or the parents are living in the city for so long a time that they have lost contact with there extended family back home.The pressure builds up as the age inceases and then they try all methods,mat ad is the last resot.
Posted by: nijher | December 11, 2006 at 05:06 PM