Is engagement a necessity?

The word engagement started ringing in my ears not long ago. I don’t mean to say my personal story - because there is no story of engagement in my life. Once the marriage was fixed, my husband and I got married without what I have often kicked away from my dictionary – engagement. I could never understand or accept this engagement, except in rare cases when the groom flew to Gulf or a foreign country for a couple of years or more. Those were the days, when the cases of breaking away the engagement were rare. Not anymore. I had once written an article on this issue for Woman’s Era (I don’t have the copyright to republish the article written based on a real-life story). The article was published during the first quarter of 2006.

Back to engagement - what bothers me more is the way engagement is celebrated. Less than a week ago, someone we know well got engaged in a five-star hotel. There was a party during the engagement ceremony followed by a drinking-party later in the evening. The majority undoubtedly asks “What’s in a party, without the chance to booze?” I’d better say, “What is in a party with a chance to booze?” In the name of fun and entertainment, men and women, young and old are cheering off themselves with a glass of beer! Doesn’t enjoyment come our way without any of these? Engagement is more of a status symbol, than a necessity. And it is often celebrated in a posh atmosphere with thousands of guests attending the event. Lakhs of bucks form the core of these occasions. Why not do something better? Perhaps, invest in a business – create employment for the unemployed or donate money for good causes.

Probably, a simple engagement ceremony, if at all necessary will remain in your minds than a costly-affair! Before you take the next step ahead – for that lavish party for your engagement, think twice – Is it really necessary?