KOLKATA, India — When Sharmistha Chaudhuri decided to get married in her native India, she faced a dilemma.
Chaudhuri, 35, is a PR professional in Austin, Texas. She’s independent, educated and has traveled the world. She wanted her wedding to reflect her liberal values and the equal partnership she has with her American fiancé.
But Chaudhuri found some Indian wedding traditions patriarchal. Hindu weddings are usually officiated by male priests. The bride’s parents “donate” her to her in-laws. It’s typically only the bride, not the groom, who prays for her new family’s longevity — and gets her forehead anointed with colored powder to signify she’s married.
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