Govt allows weddings in non-AC halls & lawns with riders

Nagpur: In some respite to soon-to-be married and businesses dependent on such events, Maharashtra government on Monday allowed weddings to be held in non-AC hall / lawn with riders — maximum number of guests up to 50 and Covid distancing a must.
A circular by state relief and rehabilitation department to all divisional and municipal commissioners, collectors mentioned that hall/lawn owners should be granted permission to host marriages after accepting proper application from them.
The circular issued by department secretary Kishorraje Nimbalkar stated that with monsoon arriving, marriages should be permitted in non-air conditioned halls and lawns apart from homes with the presence of up to 50 guests. The circular also makes it clear that they will have to follow all directives issued by the government from time-to-time regarding Covid-19 pandemic.
The government had received several representations from various quarters urging it to allow marriages to be held at halls/lawns and other places citing difficulties in arranging marriages at home with 50 persons and also ensuring Covid distancing.
Relief and rehabilitation minister Vijay Wadettiwar had told TOI that the government would allow marriages on lawns and non-AC halls after receiving many applications in this regard from citizens.
Even hall/lawn owners under the banner of Nagpur Mangal Karyalay and Lawns Association had approached the authorities seeking permission to host marriage functions.
According to association members, only a few auspicious dates (muhurat) for marriages are there till June 30. Thereafter, only a few days in November-December. “In such a situation, if we weren’t allowed to host weddings, those in the business would go bankrupt as there have been no events for the last three months because of the lockdown. Many of us have taken loans to operate halls/lawns and also employed many to whom regular salaries have to be paid,” they had said.