Covid neigh-tmare: Buggy owners hit as shaadis downsize
With weddings no longer a royalty stud-ded affair owing to the pandemic, the buggies have been lying idle this year
The famous buggy walas from Charotar, who earn up to Rs 10L a year from renting out regal-looking buggies – a symbol of status – to big, fat weddings, are on the verge of penury. With Covid restrictions in place, they haven’t received any booking this year even as expenses mount on upkeep of premium horses
If wishes were horses, buggy ownerHaji Mustafa Vora ’s problems would only multiply. With the pandemic robbing the sheen out of Indian weddings and leaving them downsized, his business has been severely hit. Every morning, he visits the stable to feed his three horses – Badal, Salim and Sultan – with a pang of despair, unsure of how long he will be able to tend to them.
Fed up waiting for a customer to walk through the door, he shuts his office and returns home in the evening without a single booking for his buggies. It’s the same story every day for buggy owners across the state – a majority of them are natives of Sojitra and Malataj villages in Anand.
Their business has been flourishing for decades now since buggies are considered markers of status and class, particularly in the NRI weddings held in the Charotar region (Nadiad and Anand). Over 100 buggies and 250 horses in Anand alone cater to weddings and other events across the state.
This year, however, NRIs did not turn up for the grand weddings that usually take place from Novemberend to mid-Jan. Further, with the government imposing restrictions on functions as well as the number of people attending them in the wake of the pandemic, many of these buggy owners are on the verge of penury.
‘It’s a hand-to- mouth existence now’
“We are leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Six of my horses are dead after they fell ill. Some are still unwell. These are desperate times and we don’t know whom to seek help from. We have not got any booking this year because of restrictions due to Covid-19,” laments Haji Mustafa Vora, 50.
Two generations of his family have been into the buggy business which is their only source of income. “I come to my office every day, tend to the horses in the stable nearby and return home without receiving a single booking. This has become a routine now. Same is the situation faced by everyone else in this business,” he added.
The buggy owners incur high expenditure for the upkeep of the horses and the carriages. On premium breeds worth Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, they spend over Rs 300 per day on fodder and Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month on the upkeep and medical checks.
The buggies too can be as expensive as cars with Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh spent on decorating these carriages — some of the most sought-after buggies are ‘Patiala’, ‘Bahubali ’ and ‘Queen Victoria ’.
Expenses mount, horses ailing
“We spend at least Rs 300 a day per horse on the feed. Other expenses including veterinary care and grooming take up additional Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000,” said Imran Buggywala who has 14 horses and seven ostentatious buggies.
“However, since the lockdown, the horses have been standing idle. Compared to the amount of food they consume, their bodies have not been getting enough exercise. We lost some of our horses after they fell ill during the lockdown period,” he said, adding, “The market condition is not very optimistic. We will not be able to find buyers even if we consider selling off our horses.”
The buggy owners charge Rs 7,000 per function and make up to Rs 10 lakh a year. “We do not have fixed rates. We finalise a deal depending on the requirement of the client and the choice of buggy. Vintage or luxurious air-conditioned buggies will cost more. Besides, if we are required to send a buggy to another city, the client has to bear the transportation cost,” he said.
“We usually earn Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh a year. But we have not been able to make any money this year. I have never been in such a helpless situation before,” saidMustafa Buggywala from Anand.
If wishes were horses, buggy owner
Fed up waiting for a customer to walk through the door, he shuts his office and returns home in the evening without a single booking for his buggies. It’s the same story every day for buggy owners across the state – a majority of them are natives of Sojitra and Malataj villages in Anand.
The horse-drawn buggies lend an air of royalty to the big, fat happily-ever-afters. These carriages are also a staple at religious processions and gala events. The buggy owners from Anand are popular for their vintage carriages and are always in demand during the wedding season across Gujarat.
Their business has been flourishing for decades now since buggies are considered markers of status and class, particularly in the NRI weddings held in the Charotar region (
This year, however, NRIs did not turn up for the grand weddings that usually take place from Novemberend to mid-Jan. Further, with the government imposing restrictions on functions as well as the number of people attending them in the wake of the pandemic, many of these buggy owners are on the verge of penury.
Buggy owners spend over Rs 300 per day on fodder and Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 per month on upkeep and medical check of premium breeds
‘It’s a hand-to- mouth existence now’
“We are leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Six of my horses are dead after they fell ill. Some are still unwell. These are desperate times and we don’t know whom to seek help from. We have not got any booking this year because of restrictions due to Covid-19,” laments Haji Mustafa Vora, 50.
Two generations of his family have been into the buggy business which is their only source of income. “I come to my office every day, tend to the horses in the stable nearby and return home without receiving a single booking. This has become a routine now. Same is the situation faced by everyone else in this business,” he added.
The buggy owners incur high expenditure for the upkeep of the horses and the carriages. On premium breeds worth Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, they spend over Rs 300 per day on fodder and Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month on the upkeep and medical checks.
The buggies too can be as expensive as cars with Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh spent on decorating these carriages — some of the most sought-after buggies are ‘Patiala’, ‘
Quotes
Expenses mount, horses ailing
“We spend at least Rs 300 a day per horse on the feed. Other expenses including veterinary care and grooming take up additional Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000,” said Imran Buggywala who has 14 horses and seven ostentatious buggies.
“However, since the lockdown, the horses have been standing idle. Compared to the amount of food they consume, their bodies have not been getting enough exercise. We lost some of our horses after they fell ill during the lockdown period,” he said, adding, “The market condition is not very optimistic. We will not be able to find buyers even if we consider selling off our horses.”
The buggy owners charge Rs 7,000 per function and make up to Rs 10 lakh a year. “We do not have fixed rates. We finalise a deal depending on the requirement of the client and the choice of buggy. Vintage or luxurious air-conditioned buggies will cost more. Besides, if we are required to send a buggy to another city, the client has to bear the transportation cost,” he said.
“We usually earn Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh a year. But we have not been able to make any money this year. I have never been in such a helpless situation before,” said
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