Yes ... Kasams ... that so uniquely Indian phenomenon ... so far, it's true that Momma S. has contributed the most (2) ... but close at her heels are Poppa S. and Simi ... I believe they have 1 each ...
Now the really sad part of this is that such things actually have meaning in many people's lives ... if I ever knew, I have certainly forgotten - what is the intent of these extracted vows? If you overrule me then you will die? Or is it that you will be stepping over my corpse? Either way ... what tripe ... if we lined up every last resident of the subcontinent, you'd find heads holding beliefs on the continuum dating from pre-Buddha days to somewhere in the 20th century ... I have only read works of people of Indian extraction whose heads are lodged in our more contemporary 21st century ... I look forward to someday meeting them ... in the meantime superstitions reign supreme
I believe it was Martin Luther King who said that it is wrong to institute unjust laws, but it is far worse to put up with unjust laws ... here on KB, we have just about every member of the Sethi clan deeply indebted to our hero Abhi for both hair and hide being left intact, and yet ... there they are ... foisting unjust vows on each other and capitulating to the worst offender of all - Momma S. That she is absolutely incapable - by virtue of birth and education - of distinguishing right from wrong, unless things clearly fall within the boudaries of a prescribed set of 'rules', is expected ... it is completely unexpected in the case of Poppa S. who is purportedly a rationalist and at least an agnostic ... it's so horribly far-fetched in the case of Simi (even if she is the very model of vacillation) who's being should be made of more ethical fiber ...
So, Sunshiners, what message do you really wish to convey?