Covid restrictions force people to ‘simple’ weddings

With wedding halls closed, people hold small receptions at homes

RAWALPINDI: The tradition of holding marriage ceremonies with simplicity has made a comeback, not because of the poor economic situation, but due to the stringent social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and to avoid action from the authorities.

Many families in Rawalpindi abandoned the age-old trend of holding elaborate functions with hundreds of guests and at least half-a-dozen cuisines and have resorted to arranging marriage ceremonies of their children with a few guests at their homes instead of holding feats for hundreds in the city’s many marriage halls and marquees.

After the district government shut marriage halls and barred gatherings of more than 50 people, many people decided to hold traditional wedding rituals of mehndi, nikkah, baraat, and rukhsati within the confines of their houses.

Moreover, traditions of decorating the bride’s house and setting off fireworks, and having a band, have also been abandoned.

Data obtained from the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, Tehsil Administration and Union Councils, shows that more than 1,000 new marriages were registered in the past four months which have seen a lockdown imposed in the city due to Covid-19.

Muhammad Ali, who saw his sister get married in the middle of a pandemic, told The Express Tribune that his sister's wedding had been originally scheduled for the first week of April. His family had even booked a wedding hall two months in advance and a caterer had been hired to feed his 400 guests.

But they all had to be cancelled after the government imposed a lockdown and shut marriage halls. Instead of cancelling the wedding, Ali said that they re-planned all events as soon as the lockdown began, he said.

With the government in no mood to reopen wedding halls any time soon, Ali said that he recently held a simple wedding ceremony for his sister.

“There were only 15 people from the groom’s side and 25 from the bride’s family at the wedding reception held at our home,” he said.

The simple ceremony, he said, helped save him Rs300,000, including marriage Rs150,000 in the rent of the marriage hall alone.

Similarly, Muhammad Adeel - who tied the knot during the pandemic, said he got married with simplicity. As a result, he said that he only incurred expenditures of just Rs50,000.

As far as guests were concerned, Adeel said that only his siblings, uncles, cousins and few neighbours were invited.

There was no hall booking, no “band, baja, baraat and other expenses including car decoration were also avoided,” he quipped, adding that all affairs were completed simply, adding that the nikkah was completed in the mosque.

Adeel admitted that they were wary of government action, adding that they deliberately tried to keep all their events a secret. “I am living a happy life without having to pay anyone's debt,” he said. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2020.