With only 14 auspicious days till May, frantic parents find all marriage halls, caterers, decorators already booked
With only 14 auspicious days till May, frantic parents find all marriage halls, caterers, decorators already booked
The happiest day of Mohan Navlakha's life the day his daughter gets married continues to elude him. And Navlakha has the Hindu calendar to blame.
With only 14 auspicious days from mid-November to May, the Gujarati businessman from Kherwadi is very worried.
Every year, the November-May wedding season sees around five-six auspicious days every month.
But this time, after six days in Novemberu00a019, 22, 23, 24, 27 and 29 and eight in December 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 there's no auspicious day till mid-May.
This has meant that all marriage halls, caterers, decorators, mehendi artistes, etc, in the city have been booked.
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We inquired with every marriage hall, school ground and hotel within our budget, but everyone's booked," said Navlakha.
If his daughter doesn't get married now, she'll have to wait another two years because of some personal reasons. "Everyone in the family is very tense," he added.
No more bookings
Obviously, those in the business of weddings are happy.
Devendra Kotecha of Raj Decorators and Caterers said, "Earlier, we would manage around five weddings in a day during the wedding season, but this time, we have more than 10 orders for one day.
Our staff is stretched to the maximum to meet the demand."
Added Mukta Fernandes, unit sales manager, Mayfair Banquets, Worli, "We received bookings eight months ago, as there are only 14 auspicious days this year.
We are booked till December and have even hiked the banquet rates."
It's the same scenario at five-star hotels too. "On some days, we will have five reception parties at a go," said Rishi Puri, group general manager, The Residence and Ramada Powai Hotel.
Music organisers and bandwallahs too have similar tales. "This is the first time we've turned away clients, but enquiries continue to come in.
On some of these auspicious days, our men have to go to over 10 weddings," said Anil Solanki of Ridhun Events, which caters to weddings in the eastern suburbs.
Lucky Him
Vijay Adhia was a very worried father till a few days ago. He had called several hotels and marriage halls for his son's November wedding, but was unable to get a booking.
Things were so bad that he had to finally decide to hold the wedding in his building's compound at Kandivli's Thakur Village.
Luckily, his friend managed to pull some strings and Adhia could book a hall at Evershine Club in Kandivli (E).
Everyone wants November 27
V P Surwase, marriage registrar at the family court in Bandra, said, "Normally, we pre-register 10 to 15 marriages a day for November and December.
But this time, between November 19 and December 13, we already have 30 pre-bookings every day.
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November 27 has been the most sought after date by couples to register their marriage."
According to sources in the marriage registrar's office, around 20,424 marriages were registered in 2008. Figures for 2009 are not available. Incidentally, 4,455 cases for divorce were filed last year.
Rs 1,90,000 cr
The size of the Indian wedding industry
Inputs by Vaidehi Limaye
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