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When the Planets Align, New Delhi Drowns in a Chorus of ‘I Do’ When the Planets Align, New Delhi Drowns in a Chorus of ‘I Do’
(about 1 hour later)
Several times a year, the fearsome “shadow planets” Rahu and Ketu, along with slow-moving Saturn, destroyer of whatever house he occupies, are for a few days disentangled from the path of any other planet.Several times a year, the fearsome “shadow planets” Rahu and Ketu, along with slow-moving Saturn, destroyer of whatever house he occupies, are for a few days disentangled from the path of any other planet.
For Indians who subscribe to Vedic astrology, this configuration is auspicious, lending promise to human endeavors scheduled on those days. For the residents of New Delhi, India’s capital, it means something very specific: a wedding apocalypse.For Indians who subscribe to Vedic astrology, this configuration is auspicious, lending promise to human endeavors scheduled on those days. For the residents of New Delhi, India’s capital, it means something very specific: a wedding apocalypse.
The last surge occurred on Dec. 7, when there were 20,000 weddings in New Delhi, according to The Hindustan Times. The next one is expected this week. A surge occurred on Dec. 7, when there were 20,000 weddings in New Delhi, according to The Hindustan Times. Another 20,000 were held on March 11.
The phenomenon sends ripples through the social and economic life of the city. The market for white mares goes bananas; Sohan Lal and Sons, which supplies the horses for bridegrooms’ wedding processions, upped its inventory to 50 from 20, but it ran through that and turned away requests for 50 more.The phenomenon sends ripples through the social and economic life of the city. The market for white mares goes bananas; Sohan Lal and Sons, which supplies the horses for bridegrooms’ wedding processions, upped its inventory to 50 from 20, but it ran through that and turned away requests for 50 more.
People of high social standing engage in mournful bragging about how many invitations they have received. Vendors dispense with the niceties of negotiation.People of high social standing engage in mournful bragging about how many invitations they have received. Vendors dispense with the niceties of negotiation.
On Dec. 7, Nandita Sharma, 25, found herself trapped in traffic for three and a half hours on her way to her sister’s wedding, the first of three she planned to attend that day. Because many of the people going to the first wedding were also invited to the second, she said, it was necessary to bring a full change of clothing and makeup. During the December surge, Nandita Sharma, 25, found herself trapped in traffic for three and a half hours on her way to her sister’s wedding, the first of three she planned to attend that day. Because many of the people going to the first wedding were also invited to the second, she said, it was necessary to bring a full change of clothing and makeup.
“It was very late in the evening, and at that time we were so much very less excited about the other wedding which we had to attend,” she said. “I was just busy scheduling the different outfits.”“It was very late in the evening, and at that time we were so much very less excited about the other wedding which we had to attend,” she said. “I was just busy scheduling the different outfits.”
In the end, the family’s movement from the first to the second was impeded by a series of boisterous wedding processions, which made Ms. Sharma progressively crankier. Her family decided to skip the nuptials of the child of a work colleague of her father’s. In the end, the family’s movement from the first to the second was impeded by a series of boisterous wedding processions, which made Ms. Sharma progressively crankier. Her family decided to skip the nuptials of the child of a work colleague of her father’s, and a woeful guilt trip ensued.
By the time they reached home, she said, they had spent six hours in traffic. By the time they reached home, she said, they had spent six hours in traffic. “It dampens the spirit,” she said, “And I am a Punjabi.”