I'm not going to QT this (you can go to their timeline and see it). But it is very, very easy to counter this narrative (showcases a bride talking to a prospective groom with a hugely dysfunctional family behind him caricatured on assorted opposition figures and they start talking of their chances in becoming the groom).
On the bride's side:
- Show a PM-lookalike patriarch. He is sitting on top of a HUGE steel box with rupee notes coming out in all directions. For helpful context, the box could be marked 'EB'.
- Show a HM-lookalike patriarch's brother. He is seen giving orders to his wife's first brother (ED) to check everyone's purse, his wife's 2nd brother (CBI) to check the vehicles of everyone, and his wife's 3rd brother (I-T) to check on everyone's bags.
- Show a FM-lookalike patriarch's sister who refuses to give money to anyone else in the family while sitting on a huge pile of money herself. And fanning herself with rupee notes.
- Together, the 3 could be seen setting rules for what everyone else in the family should eat, when should they leave home, come back, whom should they pray and how, how should they think about the family's other elders, neighbors, etc., while the FM-lookalike's husband's 3 brothers enforce all these rules rigorously.
- You can add a GSRR-lookalike who keeps walking in and out of jail, a BBSS-lookalike who does wrestling on the side along with "unmentionable" activities and the patriarch, HM-lookalike, and FM-lookalike encourage him and then look the other way even as continues.
- You can add State-level CM-lookalikes and Governor-lookalikes who sit together with assorted musical instruments in a corner and sing praises of the patriarch.
- You can also add assorted thief-like people (wearing eye patches, masks, etc.) walking up to the patriarch, falling at his feet, and be given spotless white clothes to change into. They change and join the bhajan mandli.
Garba is a celebration of life, culture and devotion. It also brings people together. It is gladdening to note that Garba’s global popularity on the rise!
Sometime ago, Garba found a place in the @UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. I am glad that the Certificate of Inscription was presented a few days back in Paris. At the same time, a memorable Garba Night was also held in Paris, which was attended by the Indian community in large numbers.