Last week i happened to participate in a Wedding Reception of a Colleague. The Bridegroom was being paraded in a palatial car, on the busy streets of the City, in the peak hours of the day, with drums and light music for musical accompaniments, and a host of friends and well wishers as processionists.

This prompted a compulsive and wild guess within me... 'But why?'... Why should the handsome bridegroom and the pretty bride be given such a shabby treatment in the thoroughfares of one of the busiest streets of the city, when technology is so advanced and people have the luxury of coming to the Wedding Hall in a comfortable if not luxurious carriage...

I got the answer soon, from another senior colleague of mine Dr.Ganesh, who gave an elaborate explanation for the ritual. Frazer would have been a happier person had he known about this lovli tradition practised from days of yore... a symbolic ritual...

In those days, when there were no advancements in technology, when the nation was living in its villages, it was the custom to parade a bridegroom through the streets of the town, for the  townsfolk to see him and ascertain whether he's already married or not, and also as a sign that the bridegroom is no more available in the matrimonial market...

I coud hear Frazer turning in his grave, whispering, "A Myth is a Mediating Metaphor - giving meaning to our lives...".

I took a deep breath, went a step back, and saluted Sir jAMES fRAZER...