Pune: Only 20 people can attend a marriage ceremony

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has allowed only 20 persons to attend a marriage ceremony held in the city jurisdiction. Earlier, 50 persons were allowed for attending these functions, but during the strict lockdown period, it was reduced to 20, and has been kept as it is even though the lockdown was relaxed from Friday (July 24).

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak in Maharashtra and Pune city, the state government had put several restrictions on public and private functions being held in the city. Usually, marriage ceremonies are held in May, but the preparation and hall booking is made a few months before. The hall is decided based upon the number of guests invited from the groom and bridegroom side. But due to the lockdown, all marriage functions had to be postponed or done at the household level.

After the central government gave some relaxations from lockdown in April and May month, the state government allowed marriage functions to be conducted in the state provided only a maximum 50 members attended it. Permissions were granted to the families and marriage hall owners, but these norms were being flouted blatantly. A few incidents were reported in which the bridegroom himself was COVID-19 positive and spread the coronavirus infection to several other guests. As a result, the local administration decided to revise its orders and allow only 20 persons to attend marriage functions.

M B Jadhav, the father of a bride, said, “This decision will help avoid the unnecessary expenses and extravagance by the parties on both sides. Lakhs of rupees will be saved, which should be utilised for the future needs of the bride and bridegroom. As a parent, I welcome this decision.”

A marriage hall owner from Katraj area said, “If the municipal corporation and police permit only 20 persons to attend a marriage function, then nobody will book a marriage hall for it. We also can’t afford to rent out the hall for such a small crowd. However, we will abide by all the norms laid down by the civic authorities.”