This book is one of the first ethnographic studies to examine the complexities of lifestyles of the the upwardly mobile middle classes in India in the new millennium. It reveals an original theory on cosmopolitan Indianness and urbanisation in the age of globalisation.

Christiane Brosius is Professor of Visual and Media Anthropology at the Cluster of Excellence 'Asia and Europe in a Global Context: Shifting Asymmetries in Cultural Flows', Heidelberg University.

List of Plates List of Abbreviations Preface Introduction : India Shining Part I. Belonging to the World-Class City 1. The City Fantastic 2. The Enclaved Gaze: Living Abroad in India 3. 'Insulate!' The Celebration of New Gated Habitats 4. Taming the Public City and other Colonial Hangovers 5. Ordering the City and its Citizens Part II. A Spiritual Mega-Experience: The Akshardham Cultural Complex 6. Who is Who at ACC? 7. A Question of Authenticity 8. A Hierarchy of Ritual Performances 9. Theme Park Antecedents and Indigenous Concepts of Leisure Religion 10. Code-Switching and Code-Clashing 11. Critics and Sceptics Part III. 'Masti! Masti!' Managing Love, Romance and Beauty 12. 'For Whom the Bell Rings': Arranging Marriage 13. 'All You Need is Wellness' and a Good Body Conclusion: 'Indianising' Modernity Glossary Bibliography About the Author Index