Despite legal abolition, caste remains embedded in lifestyle choices—which neighborhood, which cook, which marriage partner. Lifestyle content largely avoids caste, creating a sanitized "post-caste" aesthetic. However, scholars argue that aspirational content (e.g., minimalist decor, organic food) often signals upper-caste, affluent sensibilities, excluding vast populations.
For Arjun, culture isn’t a museum piece; it’s a living practice. It’s the way he seeks his elders' blessings by touching their feet before a big presentation, and the way he uses Ayurvedic turmeric milk to cure a cold. It is a lifestyle defined by Dharma (duty) and celebrated through Utsav (festivals) that turn entire cities into galleries of light and color. Despite legal abolition, caste remains embedded in lifestyle