This story is from June 25, 2020

Sale of decorative wedding material declines in Prayagraj due to coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has not only forced many couples to postpone their weddings after September or opt for "virtual wedding" or wedding with limited guests during unlock-1, but it has severely put a dent to the business of traders selling wedding turbans, designer, sherwanis, garlands with currency notes, lehengas etc.
Sale of decorative wedding material declines in Prayagraj due to coronavirus pandemic
PRAYAGRAJ: The coronavirus pandemic has not only forced many couples to postpone their weddings after September or opt for "virtual wedding" or wedding with limited guests during unlock-1, but it has severely put a dent to the business of traders selling wedding turbans, designer, sherwanis, garlands with currency notes, lehengas etc.
Traders selling bride and groom material in Chowk, Mutthiganj, Katra and Civil Lines areas said that corona pandemic has affected their business up to 30 percent to 40 percent as compared to the previous year.

Dabbu, owner of a shop in Chowk, selling designer turbans and other groom decorative materials told TOI "Though there are several auspicious wedding dates in the month of June, the sale of safas, pagris, turbans, sherwanis, malas (garlands), lehengas and other items has not picked up. “Now only five auspicious dates left in this month June 24, 25, 27, 28 and 30 but markets selling decorative materials of groom and bride have registered at least 30 percent to 40 percent decline as compared to the previous year”, he added.
He claimed that the prime reason behind low sale of decorative material is that people have postponed marriages till September.
Another trader Kamal said, "Hardly two or four customers are coming to my shop to buy designer safa, sherwani and other groom materials. Last year, we had at least 15 to 25 customers daily who would buy decorative material". Those who come to buy it do not ask for special currency mala which was a tradition till February last, he added.
Priests, who solemnise marriages are of the opinion that most of the weddings which had to be held next month, have been postponed to later part of the year.

A city based priest Pandit AK Tiwari, said, "Around 40 percent couples who have got married or going to marry in the second quarter of the year, are of the view that as things are not going to get better in near future therefore there will be no change to their plans while the remaining 60 per cent have postponed or cancelled their wedding for now".
The lockdown has in fact forced most of the couples to postpone their weddings which were planned in the second quarter of this year. But those who have fixed their wedding dates and want to get married on those dates amid lockdown will go for "virtual wedding".
Prateek, whose wedding was scheduled in June end, has postponed it to November. He said, “Even if the lockdown is lifted next month, I doubt, we will be allowed to solemnize big social gatherings like a marriage. My family has postponed it to November so that we may be able to solemnize at a grand scale”.
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About the Author
Kapil Dixit

Kapil Dixit is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Mass Communications. He has covered crime at regional as well as state level. His hobbies include reading, writing and meeting people with diverse interests.

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