The world economy is battling a slump, but the rich, as can be expected, do not have to penny-pinch like the rest of us ordinary mortals. Far from it. Delhi’s per capita income reflects a surge of 339 % in the last 13 years according to a recent government survey. And when it comes to displaying wealth, India’s rich and famous continue to beat everyone else, downturn or not. “A person’s self-worth is tied to the car they are driving the jewellery they are wearing. What you are is fast becoming synonymous with the brand you use,” says psychologist Pulkit Sharma. Here are some examples of conspicuous consumption, richie-rich style.
How the rich are living it up
An Eight-tier cake for two
A South Delhi couple ordered a 80kg eight tier cake. The hotel staff who made the cake were surprised to find just the couple waiting for it when it was delivered. They ate a little and asked the staff to distribute the rest
Flying eunuchs abroad
To get the desi flavour in destination weddings a lot of rich Delhiites are flying eunuchs abroad with them to sing and dance at the functions. Eunuchs are also being gifted laptops, ipads and smart phones at big fat weddings
Lights, camera, action
A super rich Mumbai couple roped in a film director to shoot their wedding video who brought along his team of technicians to set up professional video cameras. The three hour video costed R2 crores
Booking an entire restaurant
A clothes merchant in South Delhi’s elite Sunder Nagar colony booked an entire restaurant to surprise his girlfriend on her birthday. It was just the two of them to celebrate the evening in the 100 cover restaurant
Booking an entire restaurant
A clothes merchant in South Delhi’s elite Sunder Nagar colony booked an entire restaurant to surprise his girlfriend on her birthday. It was just the two of them to celebrate the evening in the 100 cover restaurant
Luxury in the bathroom
For the super rich, expensive gadgets such as LED TVs, video phones are not just restricted to the living rooms but also find a place in their bathrooms, kitchens and even toilets
Displaying weddings live
A Jaipur jeweller installed life size screens on his house walls to show off his son’s wedding celebration to the entire locality
100 pundits and maulvis
A lone pundit can’t make the impact. So the filthy rich have devised a new trick. In a new trend some 100 pundits or maulvis recite the sacred wedding verses in chorus on a huge stage.