Choice of Union

I am usually the least interested in discussing about the 'M' word. But with so many people around me getting into it & talking about it, I am forced to let my mind think about it & try to understand what it is all about.
      According to me marriage , living-ins are basically the same. As the essence of  commitment should be felt by d two individuals & not enforced upon them by societal pressure.. If all people in relationships feel so it would definitely bring more earnestness in the union, call it by whatever name.. I know that it may seem inappropriate to cite d example of brad & angelina.. coz indian society continues to be hypocritical .. (partly coz I am an ardent fan of angie).. But human relations ought to be the same world over.. Both of them love each other  stay together, raise kids together with both being equally committed to their kids emotionally as well as legally.. Just like any other family.. The only difference is that they hven't gone through a process of a wedding!
    Is this possible in an Indian set-up.. ? Though I would love to say yes.. The truth is v r still bound by d shackles of age old traditions.. But quiet aware of d global thought.. Thus, creating a weird concoction of thoughts..
     I definitely don't want to sound anti-marriage.. For me its just a celebration of love & full time companionship. An occasion to socialize with long lost friends & family & seek their blessings & well wishes before embarking on a beautiful journey together.
     But it isn't as simple as that is it? Since times immemorial weddings were always known as an expensive affair.. But now its a crazy industry driven by peoples' carnal desire to show -off their wealth/ hospitality.. But in spite of everything you do the guests are always going to have something to say about the biryani you served or the liquor collection you had..
   So for the middle-class it is therefore preferable to save that sizeable portion of wealth for a luxurious retirement, or the world tour which they always thought of indulging in. But people fear social ostracization .. The fear of losing social standing drives people to conform to the drivel. Most of which is pretty outdated. Unfortunately, it is true that it easier to conform to d standards then to explain to each & every person u know about your radical views. Most of whom are boneheaded & unreceptive of new thoughts.
    The most common accusation is of having loose character & lack of respect for ones culture. Culture is something that needs to be understood from the core & its fundamental values should be adapted into our modern lives. Blindly aping it without knowing its essence is shameful.
   The mid- path would be a registered marriage. Ironically, for some that piece of paper called marriage certificate would make all the difference on d world.
   The most common idea is that people living in don't need to have commitment towards each other. This attitude can turn quiet dangerous. It should be more like, ' We are together & we need not prove to the world that we are together attitude.'
   So the bottomline is, what do I conclude at the end of my ramblings?.. Which cause m I supporting?.. My answer is, none in particular. I feel that it is a personal decision based on existing circumstances. Most importantly people should not be judgemental of others & relationships r to be valued higher than rituals.
    As for me, I'll probably go for a 'big fat Indian wedding'.. Atleast if I think so, I'll be driven to increase my bank balance ;). Cheers!