KOLKATA: The second wave of the pandemic has shrunk the big fat Indian wedding with several couples cancelling or postponing their weddings tying up the entire “marriage economy” in knots.
With most couples planning to get married between April and June cancelling their marriages due to the second wave of the pandemic and the restrictions imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the virus, the entire industry of apparels, jewellery, catering, venues, music and other service providers have witnessed a sharp dip in their business.
Last week TOI reported how registration of marriages with the government between mid-April and first half of June has come down to only 10% of marriages between November and February.
An official of Adi Mohini Mohan Kanjilal, famous for its Banarasi saris, said the sale had dipped both due to the cancellation of the marriages and suspension of public transport.
“Our saris are synonymous with weddings and sales surge before and during the wedding season.
Cancellation of weddings has impacted the sales,” said an official of the company at the Mahatma Gandhi Road outlet.
While announcing the restrictions last month, the government had given special exemption to saris stores and jewellery stores due to the marriage season.
“Even after the restrictions have been eased there are hardly any buyers because people cannot commute and even those who have cancelled their marriages will take some time to reorganise it,” said Biswanath Sarkar of Dutta and Sarkar Jewellers on the BB Ganguly Street.
Last year as the restrictions eased several families went ahead with their plans by conducting ceremonies spread over many days and going for “bio-bubbles” at hotels to protect the guests as well as the family members but this time stakeholders are not expecting an immediate turnaround.
“Though the cases have declined now but the virus has left deep scars this time.
Many families have lost somebody in close or extended family.
Others have had critical patients.
In such a scenario even if people go ahead with the weddings we expect it to be a simple affair sans celebrations and the usual paraphernalia associated with them,” said Vikram Saraf, owner of VS events which design marriage ceremonies.
Another casualty has been the bachelor’s parties.
“I was booked to play for eight bachelor parties in the next few weeks but all of them have been cancelled because of the second phase.
The norm is that 50% fee is paid in advance, so I will have to provide dates when the clients decide to hold the party again,” said Pratim Ghosh, a DJ by profession.