The big indian wedding presents the largerthanlife, sometimes outlandish, generally madding, and always highoctane world of indian marriage ceremonies! Dip in to discover of the zany, overthetop, and thus far undisclosed stories associated with the wellheeled indian’s courtship and nuptial dance. from inebriated first dates over bottles of dom pérignon; to inspired proposals in exotic locations; to the entrance of the bigticket wedding planner to, finally, the giant wedding itself, preluded by shopping sprees, bachelorettes, sangeets and mehndis, and culminating in the mother of them all, the ‘saat phere’ this book is the ultimate compendium to the indian marriage tamasha. Written by someone who has keenly observed and enthusiastically participated in weddings and has almost been roped into one herself and peppered with witty observations, merry quizzes, and a whacky proposal manual (bollywoodstyle), this book is a satirical account of the excesses of modernday indian weddings, and a sobering comment on the simplicity of the past.
Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Sakshi is a new-age woman who wears many a colorful hat. Novelist, amateur photographer, voracious reader, chef-at-large, and for the most – an entertainer. Observant, humorous and instantly engaging, is possibly what best describes Sakshi’s persona. A keen observer of society, Sakshi transcripts the mundane in flashes of witty sarcasm. Born to Harish and Meenakshi Salve, Sakshi has had a protected upbringing. Her values carry a lot of the old world, her outlook modern – a curious and heady mix that keeps Sakshi grounded, yet blended with the 21st century world. Her parents continue to remain her source of motivation and support. She has found a trusted mentor and confidant in Suhel Seth, one of India’s most admired columnists and marketing gurus. Sakshi holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Exeter, UK. After having worked with a reputed fashion house, working the avant garde jeans and tee shirt culute, she switched to the other end - with internment stints in investment banks such as Barclays and UBS in London wearing jackets and black skirts and spending long hours in the City in London. Sakshi realized her calling did not lie in pursuing wealth portfolios and contemplating trade strategies. Some epiphanies are life changing indeed! Sakshi spent a summer in New York City in 2010 reading a comprehensive script writing course from NYU. Her penchant for extreme swings continued – she next catered to the dormant food critic in her by studying the fine art of food science and tastings at the renowned Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London. Don’t be surprised if Sakshi whips up a Michelin-star meal for you when in the mood! But what marks her out the most, as her friends testify, is her uncanny ability to make people laugh. As a child, she regaled her family with impromptu mimicry and impersonations. Her style developed with passing time, and she could be at a mike at large scale Indian weddings regaling large gathering or in a small group of friends holding forth with her inimitable style. Her life experiences, travels all over the world and keen observant nature has all contributed to her producing a humorous and ambitious book on Indian weddings – out soon! Published by Rupa Publishers, the ‘The Big India Wedding’ documents and calls out the excesses, dichotomies and uniqueness of Indian weddings. It is a humorous and satirical take on Indian weddings and how they turn people’s lives topsy turvy for months ahead of the event! During her free time, Sakshi can be found in her personal library which is home to over 25,000 titles. When not writing, she is mostly in the kitchen baking cupcakes, or playing with her two loveable dogs, Rio and Caolila.
