2006年VOA标准英语-Indian Weddings Becoming More Lavish

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
21 December 2006

Indian weddings have always been special occasions, celebrated¹ with zest², enthusiasm, and, in the case of the wealthy, elaborate settings and food. But as a growing economy pumps new wealth into the country, weddings have turned into veritable showpieces - and a $10 billion industry. Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi on how the fat Indian wedding has turned even fatter.

For centuries, friends and family chanted songs, youngsters danced, and cooks dished out traditional delicacies³ when Indian wedding festivities got under way.

But times have changed. The festive⁴ spirit has taken on a more ostentatious flavor as weddings become occasions for India's rapidly growing affluent⁵ classes to show off their new wealth.

The result: professional singers and entertainers have replaced the amateur melodies, elaborate parties at farmhouses⁶ and five-star hotels are now the norm, and exotic foreign cuisines⁷ are served along with traditional Indian fare.

 
Model displays wedding dress as part of "The Bridal Collection" by Shagun
Wealthy Indians have longed staged lavish⁸ weddings, as much to trumpet⁹ their wealth as to celebrate their children's marriages. But as the economy explodes, it is not just the super-wealthy who want to show off their spending power.

Neeta Raheja, runs a wedding planning company, Creative Explosions, that organizes weddings ranging in cost from $20,000 to $2 million.

"Being really extravagant¹⁰ and [going] over the top was something done by the very elite¹¹ class, today it is spread more, people who are not that affluent want to get into very elaborate do's when it comes to weddings," she explained.

The newly rich are fast learning conspicuous¹² consumption, and want to make their daughters' or sons' nuptials¹³ at least as lavish, if not more so, than the last one they attended.

Purnima Mehta, the wife of a retired¹⁴ senior corporate¹⁵ executive, recently hosted her daughter's wedding. She says organizing a show with style is important in a society where weddings have become statements.

"I may have personally liked a simple ceremony, but who wants it? Not the children, not the family - and you know everyone is sizing you up at the affair," she said.

And so, many now opt¹⁶ for several days of feasting and dancing. The parties might boast settings based on famously elaborate Bollywood films, fresh orchids¹⁷ flown in from Bangkok, perhaps a hired Mercedes instead of the traditional horse to carry the groom¹⁸. Neeta Raheja describes the difference since she entered the business in the early 1990's.

"They hire helicopters, and they [the helicopters] are showering petals¹⁹. When I used to do it [earlier], we used to have elephants standing²⁰ in a row and showering petals, but I think this is the tech age, and you can go as bizarre as you want to," she said.

Such celebrations add up to big bucks²¹: the wedding industry is now a $10 billion market that is swelling²² by 25 percent a year. These lavish affairs can wipe away years of savings²³ for many families - but no one is complaining.

 
Pakistani actress Nirma tries a necklace at the inauguration²⁴ of Bride and Groom and Jewelry²⁵ exhibition in New Delhi
The booming business has prompted property developers to design one-stop wedding malls that provide everything from the wedding outfits²⁶ to the honeymoon²⁷ plans. The first one opened in Delhi this year. More are being built in other cities.

Shopkeepers selling items such as jewelry, which is traditionally given to the bride, say sales are roaring, even though soaring gold prices in the past year have made jewelry more expensive.

Suresh Garg, the manager of one prominent jewelry store in New Delhi, says he did brisk business ahead of the wedding season that runs from November to February.

"Income levels are also going up. There is plenty of money available, salaries are rising, share values have increased, people are flooded with money," he said.

The most talked-about wedding this year was hosted in India by Sant Singh Chatwal, a U.S.-based hotel magnate. For his son's marriage in February, Chatwal ferried 300 guests from across the world on three chartered planes for week-long celebrations spread over the cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Udaipur. One of the guests likened the festivities to recreations of "ancient Indian royal courts."

Wedding planners like Raheja do not blink an eye at such a show of splendor²⁸.

"There is no really looking at costs where weddings are concerned for the super-rich in India," he said. " It is all about making a statement. Each one wants to be different from the other … It all depends on where you want to stop."

When Forbes Magazine recently looked around for the most extravagant wedding held so far in the 21st century, it specified²⁹ the celebrations hosted by British-based Indian steel magnate Lakhsmi Mittal.

For his daughter's nuptials in 2004, Mittal organized an extravaganza at some of France's most famous locations, including the Palace of Versailles. The cost of the wedding: $60 million.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 zest   

n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣

参考例句：

• He dived into his new job with great zest.他充满热情地投入了新的工作。
• He wrote his novel about his trip to Asia with zest.他兴趣浓厚的写了一本关于他亚洲之行的小说。

3 delicacies   

n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到

参考例句：

• Its flesh has exceptional delicacies. 它的肉异常鲜美。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• After these delicacies, the trappers were ready for their feast. 在享用了这些美食之后，狩猎者开始其大餐。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗

4 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

5 affluent   

adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的

参考例句：

• He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
• His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。

6 farmhouses   

n.农舍，农场的主要住房( farmhouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Then perhaps she is staying at one of cottages or farmhouses? 那么也许她现在住在某个农舍或哪个农场的房子里吧？ 来自辞典例句
• The countryside was sprinkled with farmhouses. 乡间到处可见农家的房舍。 来自辞典例句

7 cuisines   

n.烹饪( cuisine的名词复数 )；菜肴；（通常指昂贵的饭店中的）饭菜；烹饪艺术

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the different features of these cuisines? 能不能告诉我这些不同的烹调流派各自有哪些特点？ 来自地道口语脱口SHOW 高中超越版
• Ice sculptures are used as decorations in some cuisines, especially in Asia. 冰雕在某些菜肴中被当作装饰品，尤其在亚洲。 来自互联网

8 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

9 trumpet   

n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘

参考例句：

• He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
• The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。

10 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

11 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

12 conspicuous   

adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的

参考例句：

• It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。
• Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。

13 nuptials   

n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Their nuptials were performed by the local priest. 他们的婚礼由当地牧师主持。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• If he married, when the nuptials would take place, and under what circumstances? 如果他结婚，那么什么时候举行婚礼？在什么情况下举行婚礼？ 来自辞典例句

14 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

15 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

16 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

17 orchids   

n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wild flowers such as orchids and primroses are becoming rare. 兰花和报春花这类野花越来越稀少了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She breeds orchids in her greenhouse. 她在温室里培育兰花。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

19 petals   

n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣
• The petals of many flowers expand in the sunshine. 许多花瓣在阳光下开放。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

20 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

21 bucks   

n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
• They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

23 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

24 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

25 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

26 outfits   

n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits. 他把承包工程分包给许多小单位。 来自辞典例句
• Some cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have a puncture. 有些骑自行车的人带修理工具，因为他们车胎可能小孔。 来自辞典例句

27 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

28 splendor   

n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌

参考例句：

• Never in his life had he gazed on such splendor.他生平从没有见过如此辉煌壮丽的场面。
• All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend.人世间所有的荣华富贵不如一个好朋友。

29 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。