Weddings showcase many family, religious, and cultural traditions. In Natasha Khan Kazi's Lulu in the Spotlight, readers see a tradition common at many South Asian weddings - a game where young people try to steal one of the groom's shoes! The book is a fun way to introduce readers to different kinds of wedding traditions or reflect their own experiences in a beautifully illustrated picture book.

Here, the creator shares her inspiration behind this book as well as why it's so important to #shakeupyourcelebrations and share traditions like these with readers.

Growing up, my South Asian immigrant identity was a part of my daily life. I saw it in the handwoven sarees my Ammu wore, tasted it in the creamy curries my Abbu stewed, and heard it in the high-pitched vocals of Bollywood songs blasting from our 26-inch Sony TV. As my peers pulled me toward American culture, my parents pulled me back to our Bengali values. Thread by thread, I weaved together my South Asian American identity.

As a parent, I realized my children's lives looked very different — fashion trends, meal deliveries, and their social calendar took center stage. While I loved watching them feel connected to their community, a question nagged me: Do they feel connected to their roots?

And then, my sister-in-law got married.

At six and eight years old, my kids were suddenly thrown into the whirlwind of a South Asian wedding. They learned Bollywood dance routines, marveled at the custom-fitted clothing from Mumbai, and plotted with their aunties to steal the groom's shoes. It was more than a wedding; it was a crash course in Desi culture.  

Photo by Farina Kazi Ashan

For many second-generation South Asian American children, weddings are their favorite way to experience their heritage. They are multigenerational gatherings that allow the elders to pass down the family traditions, including:

• Music and Dance: The pre-wedding pep rally goes by many names: Mendhi, Sangeet, and Holud. Friends and family practice dance routines weeks before the wedding, learning to synchronize intricate Bollywood dance steps.
• Clothing: Putting on traditional South Asian garments, such as kurta pajamas, lehengas, sarees, and sherwanis, is equivalent to stepping into history and artistry.
• Rituals: Traditions that vary widely based on religion and region are passed down orally from elders, preserving family traditions. Some customs are serious, and others are mischievous, allowing young people to participate in the fun.
• Food: My LA-born children could live off a diet of tacos and sushi. However, they found new favorite South Asian dishes during the wedding festivities. From spicy samosas to cold kulfi, South Asian wedding menus invite kids to sample a broader range of flavors.

Photo by Farina Kazi Ashan

Not everyone can attend a South Asian wedding, but we can all experience them through stories. When educators introduce South Asian stories in the classroom, celebrate cultural festivals, or encourage kids to share what they've experienced with their peers, they allow children to see themselves with joy and help others appreciate the richness of different cultures. This fosters mutual understanding—the true foundation of community.
 
Books featuring South Asian American culture can help second-generation children find connection and understanding. The rich and nuanced experiences of the South Asian diaspora deserve to be celebrated and shared. That’s what inspired me to write Lulu in the Spotlight: A South Asian Wedding Story.