With few relaxations in the lockdown, the local authorities has restricted that marriage ceremony and directed that it must be done in the presence of twenty people, and within two hours.
The fresh guidlines regarding marriages has raised the eyebrows of many family having marriage on cards.
Sufal Vaidya,  who had his marriage on May 22, added that he finished the rituals by 10.30, in the presence of only few family members. “I had invited 20 people only for Haldi, another 20 including family members for Mahendi and the remaining 20 only for marriage. Seeing the circumstance, no one objected. Even I made all programme live on facebook, so that near and dear ones can watch live.†But many are making settlement with the local authorities, and managing the marriage ceremony, with the presence of more than 100 people. The one who is not  able to manage, and if someone reports, he is fined heavily.
“We have twice postponed the date, looking at the lockdown period. As the lockdown was extended we also extended the date. With the recovery rate coming at 97.3 per cent , we thought that more relaxation will be given in marriage timing and the count of public. But now the lockdown is extended plus permission of marriage for only two hours with 20 people has put us in fix,” said father of a bride.
With improvement in COVID figures last month, people planning to get married were hopefull of getting some relaxations for public gatherings but the new guidelines have scattered their
Milind Upgade a person performing marriges says that rituals involved in a wedding like fere (seven rounds) or ‘ Saptapadi’ and other rituals takes more than two hours. Even other function will take some time so two hours is not enough.
Dyandeshwar Rakshak, Social Worker and Scholar in Rashtra Sant Tukadoji thoughts, said “I have attended marriages of all community including Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim and Hindu. The marriage rituals is not possible in two hours and requires at least four to five hours. It’s a once in the life event.†Rakshak added that instead of giving permission for two hours, the Municipal Commissioner or the authorities must banned all marriage ceremony and allow only registered mirage for all casts.
He added that Municipal Corporation or the local authorities are just framing laws, which are not practical many times, and they just charge fines when broken.
