Nick Booker, a British historian and influencer, recently gained social media fame with his engaging videos. He is known for his perceptive writings about Indian culture. Booker described how he attended a cross-cultural wedding in Mangalore. His Instagram videos gave an insight into the blending of South Indian customs and Punjabi dynamism at the wedding. The occasion, in which families belonging to two different Indian states got together, was brought to fore through three exciting videos that celebrated the interesting fusion of traditions.
The nuptials, witnessed by Booker’s Punjabi relatives from California and the bride’s family belonging to coastal Karnataka, was an authentic ‘South vs. North’ affair. In one of his hit videos, Booker expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “South India meets North India: Shravya and Rajiv’s wedding in Mangalore.” He further added, “My Punjabi family members sure know how to dance, and it didn’t stop for more than 12 hours! Great celebration mixing some gorgeous holy and a lot of laughter. All the best to Shravya and Rajiv for their life ahead.”
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Booker was swept up in every minute of the wedding celebrations, dancing with his large family in spontaneous moves as the bride’s family joined in on the fun. Music and dance were only one part of this cultural blend. In another video, Booker talked about his wonder at the traditional instruments he experienced, sharing his amazement at their richness and authenticity in the celebration.
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“Have you ever been to a South Indian wedding? I was highly touched by some of the rituals I was witnessing firsthand for the first time,” Booker explained. He continued to talk about two beautiful drums he had witnessed at the wedding: the Tamil Nadu’s Thavil and Kerala’s Chende. The Thavil, jackwood and hide barrel drum, was commonly played with the nadaswaram, but in this instance a saxophone and flute played the melody. “The chende drummers were absolutely ripped!” Booker stated.
The music and food at the reception made a lasting impression on Booker. The blending of traditions and flavors made the experience even more memorable for him. His videos, uploaded a few days prior, went viral immediately, with social media users who were fascinated by his cross-cultural wedding experience.
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By his study of this wedding, Booker has yet again held his audience enthralled, exposing them to the rich fusion of South and North Indian traditions.
