With all that in the backdrop, it was most illuminating to see the cast of characters in this series. I am going to assume a lot of the show was tailored to play out desi stereotypes - the ubiquitous aunties, the face reader, palm reader, astrologer, pandit with pujas and tantras all make their obligatory appearance. Not everything in a reality show is real. Maybe the characters were having fun at the expenses of a gullible audience who wanted to believe certain mythologies about India and the Indian condition that they happily played out.
Yet, it is true that the world of Indian matchmaking cannot exist without the supporting cast of characters. You do get your horoscopes matched to make a go/no-go decision on a prospect. This process is imprinted into a person's mind well before they become aware of their personhood and preferences. The astrologer plays a critical role in the life of a family and can become indispensable during matchmaking.
More thoughts about what I took away in days and weeks to come.
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