The search spreads out from Nashik to other cities

When Bengalis reside in West Bengal, it is convenient for them to pursue alliances that would finally get two pair of hands joined together in a holy and everlasting alliance called matrimony. This is probably because distance is not a deterrent.
Weather permitting, the interactions between the two parties can be arranged conveniently on weekends. Relatives and friends can and usually do accompany. In fact they readily agree because of the possibility of being a part of the decision making process. An added attraction is of getting to taste some varieties of sweets – that is a must for all Bengali functions. A variety of sweets arranged on a plate is a must. It is immaterial whether an alliance gets finalized or not, but a plate of delicious sweets is a must.

Anyway, we resided in Nashik and, in order to move to Mumbai or Bangalore or Kolkata in order to check out a prospective bride meant a lot of advance planning, especially for railway reservations and leave.
Therefore, based on responses that we received, my wife and I had to go around the country to try and create an opportunity to meet the families and get to know them better. This is a major problem of today. Most of the families are nuclear families and live far away from close relatives – therefore on occasions like marriage, one has to move on one’s own steam rather than depend on the propulsion of others.
And, that is what we did.
The process was, naturally, a time consuming affair and, believe it or not, it added up to nearly 5-years from the day we had begun our hunt till we managed to capture the treasure. And, the best part of it was that the treasure had been unearthed by my son himself - thanks to a matrimonial website. (to be continued …)
Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Activists on kayaks protest against drilling for oil in Alaska

Disenchanted with rosy promises of a life with the ISIS, three British girls escape

Over 600 stranded migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar rescued by local fishermen

British spy chiefs recruiting computer geeks for £27,913 to help fight terrorists, criminal gangs and hackers

Ancient 2000-year-old city of Palmyra in Syria targeted for destruction by ISIS

I become a detective to trace a missing consignment


Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities