Hailing from a well-known joint marwari family of Kolkata, Anju Poddar is the rare face of modernity and tradition. With honours in Sanskrit followed by BE from the U.S.A, she is a well traveled person. She has devoted a great deal of her energy and time in working with women and children. She has also developed a collection of contemporary Indian Art and has an expert eye for textiles and weaves. She continues to maintain her interest in both Hindi and English literature.

The main inspiration for her book came from preparations for her two daughters Pallavi's and Avantika's weddings. Guided by mother-in-law Smt. Parvati Devi Poddar, she made meticulous notes on the details of rituals performed. She now shares with you this valuable knowledge. Parents who suddenly find themselves at a loss in conducting their children's marriages will find reading this book gratifying experience. She is also the author of "A Journey to the Heaven" and "Our Festivals Our Traditions"

A successful home maker Anju is married to Sri Vinod Poddar & lives in Hyderabad. She belives in celebrating everyday surrounded by her children Pallavi & Niraj More - Avantika & Puneet Dalmia and her grand children Aman, Yash, Avanee & Priyang

I have great pleasure to learn about the publication of the new book 'A Wedding in the House: Ceremonies Relating to Weddings and Childbirth' by Anju Poddar, an art lover and keen observer of Indian culture. The announcement of this book comes at a time when many aspects of our cultural life, its customs and traditions are being slowly forgotten. There is no good book which tells us about festivals, pooj as, ceremonies and rituals.

I have gone through this well written useful text of her new book and have seen its beautiful illustrations, which clearly depict the ceremonies detailed in the publication. Smt. Anju Poddar's insistence for details in whatever work she undertakes, whether it is a party hosted by her, or her love for textiles and jewellery, or her journey to see the Manasarovar Lake are already well known.

In this book, Anjuji has very precisely described not only the significance of the memorable and sacred marriage ceremony, rules for which were set by Manu, the great philosopher-saint, the joy-giving birth of a child, but also their symbolic significance and related moments of gaiety. I am confident that this book, with its precise descriptions of the ceremonies will add a new dignity, charm and value to the rituals being performed by the Hindu families in a correct way. I wish the author every success in her laudable effort to make the auspicious ceremonies more pleasant and beneficial to the people celebrating them.

**Contents and Sample Pages**