Assam: Sans glitz, weddings become cost-friendly in times of coronavirus

GUWAHATI: A wedding is not just a social affair. It is the biggest family event for many couples as they set foot in a new world of togetherness. But with social gatherings making way for social distancing, thanks to the pandemic, marriages are no longer the same. The glitz is gone, the guest list is leaner and the celebrations are muted. This changed scenario has led to one big takeaway - a drastic cut in budget for families belonging to middle-income groups - who are managing the otherwise elaborate and expensive affair for a trifle now.
"We just wanted to get married," Namita Bora, who tied the knot in Golaghat during the lockdown relaxation in May told TOI."Even for a lower middle-class family like ours, the estimated cost of a wedding would have been no less than Rs 4 lakh in normal times. But income levels have gone down drastically and we had to cut cost. I borrowed jewellery from my elder sister for the day of the wedding," Bora said.

Prantik Kalita, a marketing executive with a private lab from Nabapur in Boko town in Kamrup district, who got married last week in the presence of 20 close friends and relatives, said, "Only prasad was served among the few invitees. That's all. The ceremony was held in a Shiva temple. It was a low-key affair, but we are happy that it was done following all Vedic rituals."
In eastern Assam, where residences of brides remain the most-preferred place for marriage rituals, the fear of coronavirus is unmissable. "Due to the Covid restrictions, some of the guests came to our home in the day time but only in batches. All precautions were taken so that there is no large groups at any point. About 15 people from my family went for the marriage rituals held at the bride's home, which is 10 km away. All of them went in their own vehicles, so I had to bear no transport cost," said Dhruba Gohain, a youth activist from Chabua in Dibrugarh district, who got married recently.
Though the couples aren't complaining, an entire industry has been badly hit. With no clear sign on when things would be normal, Abhay Barjatya, a leading wedding planner in Guwahati, is a worried man.
"We are going through the worst phase. For wedding planners, there has been no business since the lockdown was imposed in March. Since only a few people are attending marriages now, the wedding planners hardly have any role to play. The livelihood of decorators and other staff is in serious threat," he said. He, however, added that when the situation improves, some of the families have plans to hold grand marriage ceremonies in November and December.
Those in the business of marriage halls, too, have suffered similar losses.
With the marriage season beginning in Assam in April, the deputy commissioner's court in Guwahati is usually flooded with registry applications during this time. But officials in Kamrup (Metro) district said not a single marriage has been registered in the city since the lockdown was announced.
"Had there been no lockdown, at least 2,500 marriages would have been registered in Guwahati over the last three months. The branch has remained closed for most parts during the lockdown and many of our staff have been engaged in Covid duties," said N Thaosen, senior sub-registrar and district marriage officer.