Indians are obsessed with weddings and obsessed with reality television. Now Shagun TV, a new television channel headquartered in a sprawling suburb of Indias capital, is hoping it has found a cant-miss idea merging the two into a 24-hour matrimonial TV station. 

Shagun TV can itself seem obsessed. Artwork on the windows of its lobby depict an Indian wedding procession, with turbaned men beating drums and an elephant-drawn carriage carrying the groom. In the main TV studio, a large cardboard astrology chart lies against a wall, used by one host to answer wedding and relationship questions. And a plasma television loops video of a bridal ceremony. 

Then there are the programs. There is a bridal makeover show, a show featuring dreamy honeymoon destinations and one on the often-fraught relationship between mothers and daughters-in-law. Theres Gold n Beautiful that showcases bridal jewelry. Coming soon are marriage-themed soap operas. 
There is no reining in the penchant for (wedding) celebrations in India, said Dheeraj Sinha, author of Consumer India: Inside the Indian Mind and Wallet. They are only becoming louder and more professional. 

Media analysts say the channel is the first in India offering round-the-clock wedding entertainment. It looks to cash in on a big fat Indian wedding market valued at an estimated $38 billion a year and expected to grow 25 to 30 percent annually, according to Alex Kuruvilla, the managing director of Conde Nast India, which publishes a string of luxury magazines. 

The Indian wedding season, which starts in October and lasts until spring, can at times seem like a bridal invasion. Traffic grinds to a halt in major cities on wedding dates thought to be astrologically auspicious. 

For centuries, Indian marriages were alliances between families of similar backgrounds, and the weddings were displays of status and wealth. In many ways, the quest for status is only intensifying as Indias economy grows.Nidhi Gaur, 25, a recent guest on a Shagun talk show, said the TV channel has helped her prepare for her fairytale wedding. 

I can decide: This is the place I want to buy my dresses, my jewelry, she said.Nidhis family began saving for her wedding when she turned 18. Five hundred people are expected at her catered November nuptials at what she calls a lavish five-star hall.If things are fairly tame now, the shows hosts intend to raise pricklier wedding issues, like dowry demands and inter-caste marriages. 

Tabi Hojna and Andrea Bonaventura arent rolling in the money. But they both are more than willing to split the tips theyll make during their volunteer bartending shifts Sunday to help keep the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival 2013 a local tradition. 

Why wouldnt you want a little festival in the community you live in? said Hojna, 27, whos lived in Hamtramck the past four years.Bonaventura, 29, another four-year resident of the diverse metro Detroit city, said there are plenty of reasons why people should pay a visit to the free festival before it shuts down at 10 p.m. Monday.Its fun, easy to navigate, theres super cheap parking, good food, great beer and really awesome bands, said Bonaventura, who works at local bar the New Dodge Lodge. 

The festivals south stage is at Jos. Campau and Caniff, where the Polish Muslims are scheduled to deliver an epic 3-hour polka rock set on Sunday). The grounds end a few city blocks north at Jos. Campau and Connor. Essentially, there are two parts: The family-friendly area runs between Casmere and Connor and features carnival rides and other midway attractions. 

In between the south and north stages festival goers can buy traditional ethnic cuisine like pierogi, bratwursts and Hungarian pancakes from mobile units set up by the Polish Village Cafe and the Polish Deli.tungsten jewelry is making a revolution in the jewelry industry by introducing unique types of designs, Dozens of other vendors are selling beer, dresses, jewelry, air-brushed tattoos and $10 T-shirts with phrases like, keep calm and polka. 

Festival co-captain Konrad Maziarz, 29, a lifelong Hamtramck resident, said that theres something at the festival for everyone: great Polish food, traditions like the yacht races down Jos. Campau and Mondays annual Polish Day Parade.This handsome link tungsten bracelet for men is constructed in maintenance-free tungsten. 

Theres a ton of fun things to do for the whole family and it all starts with this community-wide effort of support, he said. We have a ton of great local bands who want to play here, to support Hamtramck.Festival volunteer Emily Kiser said that the festival cant cost the cash-strapped city any money, or officials would have to pull the plug on it. 

Costing roughly about $35,000 to produce, individuals and local organizations have rallied to raise funds and meet different payment deadlines. Whatever profits are raised will be added to the next years festival committee budget, she added. 

We know the city is in a dire situation but itd be very disheartening to lose (the festival) now, Kiser said. This is the very definition of a community effort. Everywhere you look there are people working together.In early June, Gov. Rick Snyder declared a financial emergency in the city, and later appointed an emergency manager. 

Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski said that she basically lives on the streets during the festivals three days dancing and talking to people. Up for her third term this year, she said she hopes that the strong volunteer effort behind the festival continues.This means so much to the community and for me, Im just trying to talk to everyone just to make sure they have a positive experience, Majewski said Sunday afternoon. And they will. Hamtramck knows how to have fun. 

Even after Saturdays I dos, the I pronounce you and the kiss, Harold and Joan Millette wanted to be more married.So, the Lewiston newlyweds walked a rose-petal path up the aisle and disappeared. 

When they returned to the backyard ceremony minutes later, the brides traditional white dress was replaced by a swirling,This carbon fiber and stainless steel jewelry supplies works for both a fashion. multicolored dress referencing the wind, water and spears. The grooms white shirt and tie was replaced by a vest and a red headband. Instead of dress pants, he wore a colored sash that barely covered his briefs. 

The new clothes referenced the brides heritage in the Filipino province of Kalinga, where she was born.The brides brother, Francis Gaerlan, led the wedding party with singing, drums and a flute.For us to be whole, we had to have an American ceremony and a Kalinga ceremony, Harold Millette said later, beaming at his new wife. 

The couple met several years ago in Bath, where Millette worked as an optician. They dated for three years until he proposed at the jewelry case at JC Penney. It is the second marriage for both Harold, 66, and Joan, 53.Both said their earlier marriages happened when they were young and foolish. For this marriage, they wanted to be sure that the union was strong.They also wanted to have fun.Led by Francis Gaerlan, the couple sang and danced with their family. There were songs for nature and courtship. A Native American friend blessed the couple while gathering the crowd of 75 in a circle.

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