During her 2019 backpacking journey in India, Sarah McDonald, a 30-year-old geologist from Halifax, Nova Scotia, unexpectedly found herself attending a wedding. Determined to fully immerse herself in the culture, McDonald and her friend attempted to dress in traditional saris as instructed, but were unable to figure out the intricate clothing. Undeterred, they opted for flowy skirts and pants adorned with Indian-style decorations.
McDonald did not feel apprehensive about participating in a traditional and sacred ceremony as an outsider. Although drawing attention due to their different attire, she didn’t worry about violating any customs or disrespecting religious rituals.
In some interviews, other travelers referred to traditional clothing as “costumes” and religious ceremonies as “Bollywood performances.” Dr. Bhandari explained that ignorance often leads to a lack of cultural sensitivity, and individuals with racial or ethnic identities may feel more confident in their approach to experiencing someone else’s celebration.
Rochona Majumdar, a professor of South Asian studies at the University of Chicago, highlighted another issue – the “flattening out of Indian culture.” She expressed concern that cultural experiences are often commodified for quick consumption. There is an underlying sense of entitlement when engaging with different cultures.
Dr. Majumdar further explained that Indian weddings are not uniform across the country. Each region has its own customs and traditions. Yet, there is now a standardized perception of what an Indian wedding entails, largely influenced by Bollywood.
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