Kalacharams - Why we do What we do

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           They say no two weddings are alike, However, the parents would agree that they went through similar stresses and pains organising and finishing the rituals of a marriage activity. I would further argue that not only weddings, but most traditional activities are conducted in a similar way across the various regions of India.

​"A diverse country indeed”

           Having traveled widely throughout the different states of India, one thing but comes out evenly across states and religions, and that is, our traditions or cultures or  in a very colloquial way - our Kalacharams.

The wedding ceremony is inherently a family activity, blessed by the elders and uniquely this is where the super elders of the family get the utmost respect and are positioned very prominently during the entire wedding procedure. All across this sub-continent we see the same bonhomie displayed by all the uncles and aunts ( albeit , sometimes only for the event... haaaa). We always also have that most inconspicuous uncle, suddenly metamorphosing into the loudest-know-it-all dude. He commandeers the crowd and sets the rhythm of the wedding . As an innocuous side effect he also imposes new procedures and surprisingly everybody seems to follow.

The procedure is in most ways identical with a local hue added and colored to the variety of a particular region. The pre-wedding activities at the brides and the grooms house, where all the relatives gather to have a evening of blessings, fun and dance, is there in all the cultures and it goes by different names, " Sangeet " to the north Indians and "Penn valthu" to tamilians. How utterly surprising this must be! regions that are widely dislocated physically, seem much nearer and similar in cultures and traditions.

Being a wedding photographer has exposed me to a deeper understanding on the meaning of a wedding or marriage. Why do we do it all .

​ Over the years, having done shoots of weddings, Seemantham or baby showers, ayush homams, Puberty functions and again followed by marriages, I notice a familiar and similar deep, prominent and consistent line running through all communities, societies and religions. During shoots i hang around that spirited guy of the function to learn their reason for doing the same things that others do.

​ The feeling is heartening and brings a kind of lightness. A little smile curves my lips and a steady rush of oxygen pumps-in to push me closer to my new found friends. By the end of the shoot I have developed a lasting relationship, deeper respect for other religions/cultures, a little more maturity and an even more tolerant heart. I really wish each one of us takes up professional photography at least for a few years, We would definitely grow wiser, softer and more humane. ​

Though the language may be different, the words we use may differ, but we in India and may be in the neighboring countries too, we all do things in a very similar and familiar way.

In Tamil we call it “ Kalacharms “ - a very classically tamilian word