Why are Indians so obsessed with spending all their savings on a wedding?

I recently attended my Pahadi friend's wedding and it was a very intimate and small event. They probably spent around 4-5 lakhs total, most of which was on the Bride's dresses, jwellery and make-up.

Last year, when my sister got married, my Dad spend 35 lakhs on the arrangements and everything. He sold our family land for this. He went way beyond his means and it makes me very sad.

We kept on telling him not to do it because my sister didn't want anything lavish but he said he wanted to do it as a father of the bride.

Why are Indian fathers so obsessed with spending so much on just a wedding? Especially when they cannot even afford it.