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The Shaadi Story Kindle Edition

by Amita Nigam Sahaya (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

[A] delightful book' NAMITA GOKHALE

'A must-read' KIRAN MANRAL

'Deeply researched' PAVAN K. VARMA

What makes the Big Fat Indian Wedding so central to our lives?

The wedding is the most celebrated event in Indian society. It forms the heart of a multi-billion-dollar industry driving fashion, food, music, entertainment and our desire for companionship.

In The Shaadi Story, social entrepreneur Amita Sahaya takes a fascinating look at the history, religious traditions, societal attitudes, industry and modern adaptations of the North Indian Hindu wedding and beyond. Across seven chapters structured like the traditional ritual of the saptapadi, this book illuminates the seven different aspects of the quintessential Indian wedding. Drawing on ancient Sanskrit scriptures, western philosophies, Bollywood movies and the voices of young Indians, this book is an in-depth examination of our evolving ideas of love and relationships through the prism of our society’s most elaborate celebration.

Enlightening and entertaining, The Shaadi Story is a remarkable exploration of Indian weddings and marriages and what makes them tick.

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  1. Print length
    180 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pan Macmillan India
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    5 March 2020
  6. File size
    2.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

‘This delightful book takes us to the throbbing heart of an Indian wedding, from the sacraments and ritual to the theatre and pageantry associated with it’ NAMITA GOKHALE

‘The definitive reference point for anyone seeking to understand the sociocultural importance of the shaadi in India ... a well-researched and brilliantly written attempt to decode and deconstruct the Great Big Indian Wedding phenomenon. A must-read’ KIRAN MANRAL

‘The Big Fat Indian Wedding is a celebration to beat all celebrations in the life of Indians. Amita Nigam Sahaya’s book is a sensitive, deeply researched and poignant meditation on the celebration, the planning, the complexities, the sociology, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the enduring appeal of this pivotal event’ PAVAN K. VARMA

About the Author

Amita Nigam Sahaya is a social entrepreneur and gender activist. She is thedirector and founder of three NGOs including the Women Work & Health Initiative. She has authored and edited seven books on women and gender issues and translated to English the Hindi classic Jhansi ki Rani, Lakshmibai by her great-grandfather Vrindavanlal Verma. Amita is co-founder of the Sweden India Gender Network (SIGN) and of India and Beyond the Dialogue Series, and has established two community education and development centres for the underprivileged in Delhi.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B083QLHPD1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pan Macmillan India (5 March 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 180 pages
  • Best Sellers Rank: #633,591 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

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Top reviews from India

  • ANNI
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice
    Reviewed in India on 5 October 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
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    ANNI
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Nice

    Reviewed in India on 5 October 2025
    Nice
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  • Tanya Gupta
    4.0 out of 5 stars This book will force you to change your dogmatic approach towards the big-fat Indian weddings.
    Reviewed in India on 25 July 2020
    Format: Hardcover
    “Indian weddings have traditionally been considered a marriage of two families, rather than just a marriage of the bride and groom”. This is rightly put forward by Amita Nigam. She has talked about the stigma that surrounds an Indian wedding. This is the point that has been discussed in over 200-page book, where each page brings some new insight and new theories, that needs to be Enlighted among more people.

    This book takes us deep into the journey of how Indian marriages revolved over the past centuries. Divided into seven chapters, each explaining the concept of Saptapadi or The Sevan Pheras (Vows), unravels in the deep-rooted mindset behind these big-fat weddings. There are various sub-topics within the periphery of each chapter, which brings us in the interiors and basics of a big-fat Indian Wedding, thus, making it more interesting. The Shaadi Story is an eye-opener and well-researched analysis behind the secrets of the big-fat Indian weddings and quoting every sentence of the book with all the references, surveys, interviews, theories, anecdotes, and researches. To make it more enthralling she has used the references from even Bollywood movies, Sanskrit scripters, and some western philosophies. This book will defy your dogmatic approach towards unethical and insincere practices, prevalent still in our country.

    It was a page-turner and would leave you wanting for more. With a set of rich vocabulary, the narration of the book and formation was spot on. This book will force you to put up on your thinking cap and introspect on topics like gender inequality, nuptials, and ignorance. Do you think dowry is an important aspect of a marriage??

    I would be recommending this book to everyone, especially the youth (youngsters) and millennials as they are the people who would be making and contributing their best to make our future the best.
    Customer image
    Tanya Gupta
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    This book will force you to change your dogmatic approach towards the big-fat Indian weddings.

    Reviewed in India on 25 July 2020
    “Indian weddings have traditionally been considered a marriage of two families, rather than just a marriage of the bride and groom”. This is rightly put forward by Amita Nigam. She has talked about the stigma that surrounds an Indian wedding. This is the point that has been discussed in over 200-page book, where each page brings some new insight and new theories, that needs to be Enlighted among more people.

    This book takes us deep into the journey of how Indian marriages revolved over the past centuries. Divided into seven chapters, each explaining the concept of Saptapadi or The Sevan Pheras (Vows), unravels in the deep-rooted mindset behind these big-fat weddings. There are various sub-topics within the periphery of each chapter, which brings us in the interiors and basics of a big-fat Indian Wedding, thus, making it more interesting. The Shaadi Story is an eye-opener and well-researched analysis behind the secrets of the big-fat Indian weddings and quoting every sentence of the book with all the references, surveys, interviews, theories, anecdotes, and researches. To make it more enthralling she has used the references from even Bollywood movies, Sanskrit scripters, and some western philosophies. This book will defy your dogmatic approach towards unethical and insincere practices, prevalent still in our country.

    It was a page-turner and would leave you wanting for more. With a set of rich vocabulary, the narration of the book and formation was spot on. This book will force you to put up on your thinking cap and introspect on topics like gender inequality, nuptials, and ignorance. Do you think dowry is an important aspect of a marriage??

    I would be recommending this book to everyone, especially the youth (youngsters) and millennials as they are the people who would be making and contributing their best to make our future the best.
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    3 people found this helpful
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  • Abhinav
    5.0 out of 5 stars Indian weddings
    Reviewed in India on 16 December 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    An amazing book to read to understand the Indian weddings
    One person found this helpful
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  • Rashmi
    4.0 out of 5 stars A BEAUTIFUL ONE
    Reviewed in India on 10 September 2020
    Format: Hardcover
    The book is an account of weddings in India. It deals with the hush and rush involved in the weddings. Reading this book at this point of time was really a bliss for me. It's been ages since I attended a wedding and hope it would be the same with you. In this book, the author has given an account of the reason behind the big weddings, they way they're arranged, the way they're conducted and ended and many more things.

    The book begins with the explanation of the author's memory of a big fat wedding during her childhood. Sge remembers the maximum part of it and so do we, these functions hardly go out of our mind. This memory was an emotional one for the author and she describes it in a beautiful and descriptive way.

    The book talks about how the match making begins and how their materialistic things are done. Each and everything that an Indian wedding involves. She had also covered the topic of dowry in the book which is really amazing. She has written about the role of bollywood in deciding the way we conduct these functions and that's really beautiful. The changes that is happening over years and their pros and cons have been mentioned. She has also connected mythology with it which is beautiful.

    The best part of the book was that she also talked about homophobia which deserves a salute. When we talk about weddings, we think only about boy's and girl's ways but when will lgbt come? And there you go, this author has written it in a beautiful way which is really to be appreciated. So, kudos to her.

    The book's cover deserves full score. It totally shows that it is realated to wedding and totally looks like a wedding card. The writing style was good but I felt it was exaggerated sometimes. The language was easy. It's recommended to all. Go for it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • harmeet kaur
    5.0 out of 5 stars Significance of marriage
    Reviewed in India on 13 June 2021
    Format: Hardcover
    A beautiful combination of tradition and modernity. The writer has discussed the institution of marriage with it's pros and cons in a realistic manner.Loved reading this book.❤️❤️
    One person found this helpful
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  • Chaitanya Aggarwal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cornucopia of thought provoking facts – fascinating and alarming in equal measure!
    Reviewed in India on 14 March 2020
    Format: Hardcover
    The Shaadi Story inverts the very essence of our understanding of the quintessential “Big Fat Indian Wedding”. Hugely readable, it is a cornucopia of thought provoking facts – fascinating and alarming in equal measure.

    The book captures the Indian wedding in 7 key chapters akin to the seven pheras (wows) that helps the reader understand the cultural and religious evolution of Indian wedding(s) and the accompanying melee. It then (individually) in each chapter takes on the topic of what we have assumed and accepted as norms, customs and tradition; first by questioning why they exist and second by highlighting their skewed misogynistic nature.
    The Shaadi Story is an overwhelming indictment of institutionalized patriarchy that exists behind the glamour of Indian Weddings and a rallying cry to question and change the status quo.

    The result is an explosive, seminal and eye-opening analysis of the gender inequality and ignorance. Replete with anecdotes, interviews and data, the book is a timely reminder of why we need to change these venerated traditions and be more in line with the millennial reality.
    One person found this helpful
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