Cross cultural Engagement party

March 25, 2016 5:31 PM

My colleague has been invited to an engagement party for his friends who are Indian-Fijian Hindu. What can he expect at the party and what would be an appropriate gift? If it matters everyone lives in Australia at present.
posted by MT to Religion & Philosophy (2 answers total)

For your friend: Are both partners Indian -Fijian Hindu people? Will they continue living in Australia, where is the venue? A temple then a restaurant? Food at the temple? Ceremony in the park? How old are they? How devout are they? Have they been married before? What was the wording on the invitation? What time is the ceremony/celebration?

Lots of questions and if we don't get someone with specific knowledge, we'll likely get someone who knows about current trends in Hindu weddings in Australia, or someone who knows someone. Knowing how big the Indian Fijian population is here, I'd say that's the most likely situation and for the purposes of answering your friend's question...the most salient part the Australian Hindu wedding part.
posted by taff at 5:23 AM on March 26, 2016 [1 favorite]

Yeah, this question is unanswerable. Being a certain ethnicity tells me exactly nothing about your friend's friends. Your friend needs to ask them his question. It's not a rude question, and it's far better to ask than to make assumptions.

I'm in the US, but I've never heard of engagement party gifts, as such. I'd bring a nice fancy-looking card warmly expressing my congratulations.
posted by zennie at 5:42 AM on March 26, 2016