Telangana: Purohits flooded with requests for muhurats

HYDERABAD: With only a few auspicious days left for the marriage season to end, there is a mad rush for muhurats and wedding shopping across the state.
Pandits in the city claim they have been flooded with calls for muhurats between June 20 and 29. After that, prospective brides and grooms would have to wait till August 12 to tie the knot. With predictions of a possible third wave of Covid-19 around September likely to sweep the country, many are looking for muhurats on June 20, 23 and 29 to complete the marriage rituals.

There were auspicious days from May 12, but many deferred their wedding plans as lockdown was imposed in the state and marriages were permitted with restrictions.“Though many families at that time had fixed weddings, they dropped the idea due to lockdown and surge in Covid- 19 cases. Now, many are approaching us for muhurats, especially on June 20, 23,” SVK Sharma, a purohit from Chikkadpally, said.
According to the Hindu almanac, good muhurats are available on June 16, 20, 23, 27, 28 and 29. After July first week, Asahadam (inauspicious month for Hindus) begins, where auspicious events do not happen. “I got requests for dates at least from 10 families this week. This could increase huge rush in weddings as usually at least three lakh marriages happen in the state this season ,” V Ramchandracharya, another priest, observed.
As there were hardly any auspicious days between January 8 and April 22, many prospective couples were looking for muhurats this season. “ In the last week of April, we had performed the marriage of my sister with limited guests and no festivities. My another sister is keen on having an elaborate wedding, so we are looking at unlock procedures,” Sudharshan Reddy P, a software professional, said.
Experts warn that whatever might be the unlock procedure, it is better to avoid huge gatherings. “We should adapt to the new normal, and try to be away from big gatherings unless it is very urgent and important,” Telangana Hospitals and Nursing Association (THANA) president Dr Kishan Rao said.