No pheras but the party’s real: Inside India’s fake shaadi boom – The Times of India

In a few weekends, a lush resort in Karjat will transform into a wedding venue, complete with dhols, a flower shower timed to a baraat’s arrival in a vintage car, and a floating stage across a swimming pool for the bride and groom to exchange garlands amid frenzied cheering. There’ll be joota chhupai games, an awards night, and even paparazzi.
Except, no one’s getting married. At this upcoming two-day ‘shaadi’, there won’t be a priest, pheras or family tensions. Just a resort full of adults in wedding finery pretending to be ‘rishtedaars’ — living out their big-fat-Indian-wedding fantasy minus the paperwork, rituals or awkward ‘beta, when is your turn?’ cross-examination. There’s a bride and groom, yes. But they’ve been handpicked via a contest.