Western Influence on the concept of gifting
June 25th, 2018
Western influence has made a great impact on our lives – changing our way of living, dressing, tastes and preferences, including food, and celebration pattern. The coming up of shopping malls, western food chain restaurants, western style fitness salons, and western patterned apparels have changed the outlook of people widely. Now a days even in occasions like marriage and religious ceremonies people play western music, there are also a large number of people who take lessons of Western music.
How Western Influence has impacted celebrations
Previously, marriage ceremonies and birthday parties meant only the inclusion of Indian cuisines. But now, the entire event management team specializes in offering services, which are hundred percent customized, be it the inclusion of Western cuisines or the ambience and decoration, or the music played and wedding attire. Just like western countries, theme parties are now seen in India, where the entire party is organized following a theme. The guests are also asked to be a part of that theme. The positive impact of Westernization in India is that it has reduced the degree of Orthodoxy which existed earlier, for eg the dowry system, the inherent system of girls being housewives after marriage, neglecting the studies of girl child and looking upon them as burden, female foeticide, female infanticide etc.
Westernization and Western cuisine
We Indians lay great emphasis on food, and believe no celebration or ritual is complete without food. Indians are food lovers, and Indian street food is something that the entire world knows about. It is always said that in India no foreigner would ever return back starving, since there are thousands of options available for them. Western influence on food has further made it easy for foreigners as well. It is also a ritual in India to have a dessert at the end of meal, even it be sugar. The idea of desserts has become modified to some extent with the inclusion of cakes, cookies, ice creams, assorted ice balls etc. Just like our clothes and grocery, we can now order cake online, whenever we crave for it. Upcoming chefs are taking up patisserie and bakery very seriously.
Cakes and Celebration
Anytime, anywhere we wish to celebrate, or give a surprise to someone near and dear, or celebrate a product launch at office, or celebrate anniversary and birthdays, the first thing that comes into our mind is to send a cake or order a cake. Earlier cakes were only limited to Christmas celebration at least in India. But now cakes have become an integral part of every celebration be it small or large. This is the impact of Western influence on our lives. But as long as it makes us happy, it should not be a matter to be taken very seriously. Western influence becomes hazardous to us when it affects our normal well being, taking a toll on our health and mental well being. For eg, over consumptions of fast foods such as pizza, burgers, and cheese stuffed sandwiches, increases our cholesterol level, thereby affecting our heart. Similarly over consumption of liquor and carbonated drinks affects our health, thereby interfering in the normal functioning of the body.