Why do Bollywood celebrities and the rich class of the country need to pay attention to the concerns of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi?

Recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his deep concern over the increasing trend of Indian "rich families" organizing weddings abroad. He urged people to celebrate weddings on Indian soil to ensure that the country's money stays within its borders. In his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, PM Modi stressed the importance of supporting made-in-India products during wedding shopping, in sync with the 'Vocal for Local' initiative.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the potential economic impact during the wedding season, estimating the business to be around Rs 5 lakh crore. He encouraged the citizens to give full priority to products made in India, thereby promoting the feeling of unity and economic growth within the country.

Expressing concern over the emerging trend of Indian families choosing foreign wedding destinations, PM Modi said celebrating marriages on Indian soil will not only keep the country's wealth within the country but will also allow people to participate in the festivities and services and get to serve opportunities.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressing at the webinar for effective implementation of Union Budget in Defence Sector, in New Delhi on February 22, 2021.

Acknowledging that today, the systems desired by the rich class for their desired wedding celebrations may not be immediately available, PM Modi suggested that organizing events within the country could definitely contribute to the development of such systems. , especially marriages abroad of rich families. In the context of organizing. He expressed hope that his message will definitely reach the influential families of India.

In this article, the growing trend of Indians choosing destination weddings abroad is discussed, highlighting Thailand as a popular choice. Nearly 60% of destination marriages in Thailand in 2022 were by Indian residents. It touches upon the economic implications for the hospitality sector and efforts by international governments to attract Indian weddings.

In simple words, PM Modi is concerned about the economic impact of families choosing foreign wedding venues. He encouraged celebrating weddings in India and support local products to preserve the wealth of the country. This article focuses on the impact of Bollywood on destination marriages and the growing trend of Indians choosing such ceremonies abroad, which impacts the economy of those locations too.

Indian celebrities often choose unique and remote locations for their weddings, which creates a stir among their fans. Let us know about those Bollywood stars who chose international wedding venues as their favorite destination:

Madhuri Dixit, USA (1999):
During the peak of her career, Madhuri married Dr. Sriram Nene in a private ceremony in America. At that time the owners of Indian wedding venues, five star hotels and palaces were greatly disappointed.

Suchitra Pillai Denmark (2006) Versatile actress Suchitra Pillai, who is famous for her role in "Dil Chahta Hai", found love in her life in the year 2006 when she married Lars Kjeldsen, a Danish engineer. That Dutch palace in Denmark became witness to the union of these two loving hearts, but India could not witness this happiness.

Actress Kim Sharma, Mombasa (2010):
Kim surprised everyone by marrying Kenyan tycoon Ali Punjani in a quiet ceremony in Mombasa.

Manisha Koirala, Kathmandu (2010):
Manisha married Nepalese businessman Samrat Dahal in a dream-like ceremony in Kathmandu. It is a different matter  that the marriage could not last long and both of them got divorced.

Celina Jaitley, Austria (2011):
Celina married Austrian businessman Peter Haag and chose Austria as their wedding destination.

John Abraham, Los Angeles (2014):
John tied the knot with Priya Runchal in an intimate Los Angeles ceremony and surprised fans with a New Year's tweet.

Vir Das, Sri Lanka (2014):
Comedian Veer Das kept his marriage with Shivani Mathur private for a long time and after that, he threw his wedding party in a special ceremony in Sri Lanka with 100 guests.

Ranvijay Singh Singha, Mombasa  (2014)
After his events in Goa, Dubai and London, Rannvijay celebrated his wedding with Priyanka Vohra in Mombasa, Kenya.

Rani Mukherjee and Aditya Chopra, Italy (2015):
The couple chose Italy as their wedding destination and had a very private wedding ceremony there with only close friends and family.

Kunal Kapoor, Seychelles Islands (2015):
Kunal married Naina Bachchan in a private ceremony on the Seychelles island, which featured a lavish seaside romance.

Preity Zinta, LA (2016):
Preity married Gene Goodenough in a private ceremony in Los Angeles, which was attended only by family and close friends.

Lisa Haydon, unknown (2016):
Lisa married Dino Lalvani in a private ceremony, choosing an exotic beach as their wedding destination. They never disclosed that location.

Neha Bhasin, Italy (2016):
Making Italy her wedding destination, Neha got married to Sameer Uddin in Tuscany and shared this happy occasion on social media.

Anushka Sharma, Italy (2017):
Anushka and Virat Kohli had their much-awaited wedding on December 11, 2017 in Tuscany, Italy. Even at that time, the Indian land was deprived of witnessing the auspicious marriage of its beloved cricketer and beloved actress.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, Italy (2018):
The couple got married  on November 15, 2018, in a traditional ceremony at Lake Como in northern Italy. But the big hotels and wedding palaces of India were definitely disappointed that the wedding of this famous couple did not take place at their place.

Neena Gupta, USA (2002):
Years after her relationship with Vivian Richards, Neena Gupta married Vivek Mishra in the USA.

Surveen Chawla, Italy (2015):
Making Italy her wedding destination, Surveen surprised everyone by revealing her marriage to Akshay Thakkar in Italy in 2017.

Aftab Shivdasani, Sri Lanka (2014)
Aftab Shivdasani, on June 11, 2014, tied the knot with British-born Indian model Nin Dusanj. Another unexpected turn in their love story was when they decided to renew their wedding rituals on August 29, 2017 and this time, the celebration was celebrated at the exotic Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka, creating memories of a lifetime.

Mohit Marwah, Dubai (2018):
Mohit is known for his roles in films like "Fugly" and "Raag Desh". Mohit started a new chapter in his life by marrying Antara Motiwala on February 20, 2018. Their three-day celebration at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al-Khaimah in the UAE was no less than a star-studded extravaganza. Surrounded by family and friends, including Bollywood icons like Arjun Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Karan Johar and the late Sridevi, Mohit and Antara exchanged their wedding vows in a destination ceremony filled with love and laughter.

Is it not surprising that despite rising prices, between April and December last year, many Indians spent a whopping $10 billion on foreign travel to one or the other destination. This amount was more than the travel expenses of any entire financial year. Rich people in India are now exploring new destinations like Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Kenya, Tanzania and Morocco.

In such a situation, wedding organizers suggest that if foreign locations want to attract Indian weddings, or vice versa, they should make it easier by offering flexibility. This includes simplifying visa processes, encouraging more flights, providing competitive charter flight options, increasing the number of rooms and unique event spaces, facilitating customs clearance for Indian/foreign food and beverages, and sourcing local vendors for logistics and decor.

Hosting a multi-day Indian wedding abroad is a big-budget affair, and India's love for these extravagant celebrations is expected to grow. A report predicts a 77% rise in high-net-worth individuals in India from 2021 to 2026, with a net worth of more than USD one million.

This means that with more wealthy individuals and increasing interest in overseas travel, the international hospitality industry will benefit greatly.
Now let us talk about the changing colour, form and tradition of Indian weddings.

In the heart of India, where customs and traditions have shaped the essence of weddings for centuries, a remarkable change is underway today. Once upon a time, marriage ceremonies were held in the courtyard of the houses, on the terrace or in the vacant area around the house.

There was a warm atmosphere in the family , weddings were intimate events, held at home, with the courtyard serving as a stage for the cooks to prepare delicious dishes. Those Indian weddings were celebrated in the courtyard, with the aroma wafting from the dishes being prepared by the cooks, are now lost in the grandeur of banquet halls, ancient palaces and five-star hotels or foreign destinations.

The growing attraction towards these grand destinations has taken away the simplicity of traditional home-based celebrations.

One of the most significant changes can be seen in the bridal attire. For generations, red sarees and red lehenga dresses have been the first choice of brides, symbolizing auspiciousness and tradition. Wearing white at weddings has long been considered a departure from Indian cultural norms but now, a sea of change is blowing in the bridal fashion landscape.

Prominent celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Isha Ambani, Gauhar Khan, Rhea Kapoor, Natasha Dalal, Neha Kakkar, Mira Rajput, Rubina Dilaik and many others have challenged the age-old tradition of red attire. Modern Indian brides are now choosing off-white, ivory and even crimson colors for their wedding, mehendi or reception ceremonies.
This departure from tradition may certainly raise the eyebrows of those who are still firm on the roots of Indian culture.

Symbolic of purity and fertility, the deep red color has now blossomed into a spectrum of colors that reflects the evolving tastes of the contemporary bride.

It is necessary to navigate this whirlwind of change with a thoughtful balance. While adopting modernity, it now becomes imperative for us to preserve the essence of tradition. There is a need to heed the request made by the Honorable Narendra Modi, to return to Apna Ghar and Apna Desh-based marriage ceremonies. The increasing attraction towards foreign destinations and grand places should not affect the importance of family bonds and the intimacy of traditional rituals.

Similarly, changes in the bride's traditional attire should not break the deep connection with cultural symbolism. Looking at the kaleidoscope of colors in modern Indian weddings, it is important to appreciate the beauty of change without losing sight of the cultural heritage that has created, inhabited and woven together by generations.

Although change is inevitable, the thread connecting the past, present and future of Indian weddings must remain unbroken. As we step into a new culture of celebrations with the new era, new India, let us cherish the evolving shades of tradition and ensure that the sanctity, beauty and spiritual radiance of Indian weddings remains as before, amidst the changing tides of times. May our traditional wedding culture always shine like ever it did.