India is the land of marriages. Every single year, more than 10 million weddings take place, which is more than any other country in the world.
Traditionally, a wedding in India was never just the joining of two individuals. It symbolized:
Two families coming together
Two cultures blending
A sacred bond blessed by rituals
But if we look at today’s trend, something strange has happened. The sacred celebration is slowly turning into a cheap social media reality show. People have even coined a name for it — CHAPRI-fication of weddings.
But before we move forward, let’s understand what exactly is happening and why this is dangerous for our culture and generations to come.
Part 1: What is “CHAPRI-fication”?
The term “Chapri” in desi slang refers to people or behavior that is:
Cheap
Cringe-worthy
Attention-seeking without depth
Focused only on unwanted show-off and fake swag
Examples You Must Have Seen:
Entry of bride/groom on JCB machines or disguised as dinosaurs
Rituals like Haldi being replaced with beer baths
Brides and grooms doing “gun show-offs” and even real bullets fired during weddings (many deaths have been reported due to celebratory firing)
Bollywood songs replacing sacred chants
Pandits being mocked for reels and TikTok-style cringe
Instead of being sacred, weddings are becoming an entertainment circus for Instagram views.
And the saddest part is → this trend is only growing.
Part 2: Why Are Indian Weddings Turning into a CHAPRI Show?
This is the real CBS-style question: Why is this happening?
Let us break it down into root causes:
1. The Competition Culture (Shaadi Must Be “Unique”)
Every family now feels their wedding should be different from the last one. It shouldn’t “just be simple”, it should be Instagrammable.
Someone saw an elephant entry → they want a dinosaur entry.
Someone saw fireworks → they want drones + 3D mapping.
Someone saw a dance entry → they want a JCB entry.
Result? A never-ending competition of nonsense.
2. The Social Media Show-Off Culture
Earlier weddings were about blessings, joy, food, and rituals.
Now weddings are about:
📸 Photo Ops
🎥 Reels
💸 “Flexing” wealth
If there’s no content for Instagram → people feel they wasted money. This is social validation addiction.
3. The Attack on Traditions (in the Name of Being “Woke”)
The new woke culture is quick to dismiss Hindu rituals as:
Patriarchal
Old-fashioned
Unnecessary
So now we see:
Brides putting sindoor on grooms “in the name of equality.”
“Kunwar-daan” being invented to replace Kanyadaan.
Bollywood songs being used instead of Vedic mantras.
Haldi rituals replaced with “beer showers.”
But here’s the irony: The same rituals were performed by Lord Ram-Sita, Lord Shiv-Parvati, Lord Krishna-Rukmini… Did they lack equality in their marriages? No.
This means that the problem isn’t the rituals — the problem is our perception.
4. The Influence of Films & OTT Platforms
Bollywood has heavily glamorised the idea of,
“Big fat weddings”
“Modern rituals”
“Anti-tradition coolness”
Youngsters think → What they see in movies is modern and better.
But in reality, it’s pushing them away from their roots.
5. The Economics of Show-Off
Wedding planners, event managers, and luxury service providers are fuelling this.
Why?
Because weddings are a $50+ Billion Dollar Industry in India.
The more you spend → the bigger their margins.
So they package “weird ideas” as “unique premium experiences.” Families fall into the show-off trap.
Part 3: What Are the Dangers of This Chapri-fication?
This is not just about cringe. This is about cultural, social, and even legal dangers.
1. Loss of Culture & Sacredness
The core idea of marriage → two souls, two families, one bond → is lost.
Kids growing up in this environment will only know weddings as:
Performance shows
Fashion runways
Social media events
But they won’t internalize rituals or values.
2. Deadly Accidents from Show-Off
Gun firing has killed brides, grooms, relatives, and kids during weddings.
Overloaded stages have collapsed.
Drunken driving in processions has caused deaths.
When a sacred ritual becomes a dangerous stunt, you know society is going wrong.
3. Debt Trap for Families
Many middle-class families spend 10–20 years of savings on one wedding, because:
Society demands show-off
Comparison with neighbors/relatives
Bride/groom want “viral wedding videos”
This pushes families into deep debt — weddings become financial burdens rather than blessings.
4. Destruction of Religious Identity
When rituals are mocked and replaced with shallow Bollywood gimmicks, religions lose their identity. Imagine if:
Christmas is celebrated only as a DJ party (without prayer).
Eid is just about bike stunts.
The same way, if Hindu marriages lose rituals → in 50 years, the cultural fabric collapses.
Part 4: How Do We Stop This CHAPRI-fication?
(CBS-Style Practical Solutions)
Here is the step-by-step action plan for families, couples, and society.
1. Awareness First
Couples need to understand the sacredness of marriage.
Educate children in schools/colleges about rituals and their meanings.
Share family stories of weddings with values, not show-offs.
2. Family Responsibility
Parents must set boundaries:
❌ No Guns
❌ No Alcohol-Inspired rituals
❌ No unnecessary circus
✅ Simplicity & elegance
Families must stop competing with neighbors.
3. Social Media Detox for Weddings
Instead of asking: “How viral was our wedding reel?” ask:
“Did everyone feel respected?”
“Did our rituals happen correctly?”
“Did we enjoy as a family?”
Make the wedding memorable for loved ones → not for unknown followers.
4. Modern Yet Respectful Innovation
It’s okay to modernize the look of weddings… but not at the cost of rituals.
For example:
New décor styles → fine
Professional photography → fine
Family dance → fine
But replacing rituals with beer haldi or Bollywood mantras is foolish.
5. Legal Enforcement
The government must strictly enforce:
Ban on gun firing in weddings
Limits on processions that cause public chaos
Regulation of event companies to avoid safety violations
6. Spiritual Guidance & Role Models
Pandits, Gurus, and Social Leaders should educate young couples about:
Meaning of Sindoor
Meaning of Kanyadaan
Value of Mangal Sutra
If people know the philosophy behind rituals, they won’t mock them.
Part 5: The CBS Formula for Responsible Weddings
At CBS (Career Building School) style, here’s the framework couples and families can follow:
C → Clarity
Decide what marriage means to you → Rituals? Social event? Spiritual bond?
Choose clarity → avoid confusion.B → Balance
Balance tradition with modern trends.
Balance budget with happiness.
Balance looks with values.S → Simplicity
Keep the focus on love and family, not circus and reels.
Simplicity is timeless.
Part 6: Golden Examples — Weddings That Inspire
Many successful business families are now opting for simple, eco-friendly weddings.
NRIs (who earn in dollars) often prefer small temple weddings in India, to stay rooted.
Even some celebrities quietly marry with family-only functions (example: registered + simple rituals).
These show us that charm lies in dignity, not in drama.
Conclusion: The Future of Indian Weddings
If we don’t stop this Chapri trend, the next 20 years will see weddings turning into:
Reality shows
Circus events
Expensive debts
But if we take charge today:
Our kids will respect heritage
Weddings will again become sacred memories
Families will save money, time, and stress
Finally ask yourself:
👉 Do you want your wedding to be remembered as a blessing or as a cheap viral video?
The choice is yours.
