Re: why do desis do this?
MO3 and others -- I'm curious. Why is it a problem if you arrive late and others have started eating? It never bothers me. Why would anyone feel awkward about it?
I think it's all about setting up expectations. If there is an expectation that 7 really means 9 then people are going to go by that. If they know that things are going to start on time, then they will go by that, unless they really can't. But I don't see any point in holding up the function if most guests have arrived.