Odisha: Downsizing takes cheer out of weddings during second Covid wave

BHUBANESWAR: Gone are the days when weddings used to be lavish affairs with intricate garments, lots of gold jewellery, days-long events, hundreds of guests, elaborate venues with ornate decorations, spread of dishes and feasts. The big fat Indian weddings have become muted and private affairs without much pomp and show for the last one and a half years. Thanks to Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions to avoid congregation and check the spread of infection.
However, people have learnt how to manage with the restrictions and cut-short guest list to 25 including the bride, the groom, and priests and with online shopping. During the pandemic, people are spending less on wedding ceremonies where masks and sanitizers are part of the new normal.
“The worst thing about tying a knot in the pandemic was that you have a slimmer guest list. I miss my friends and close relatives on my big day as only 25 people can join the function as per government guidelines. I hope the situation will improve soon and we can have the celebrations later,” said Anand Mishra, who decided to forgo a grand event on his wedding and got married in an intimate family affair on Saturday.
Couples also made digital information cards and made live telecast of their wedding so that families and friends could join them online.
Anuj and Debashree, old-friends became soulmates on Saturday, said, "It has been a unique experience to get married during the pandemic. Instead of their earlier plan to make it a week-long celebration, they trimmed it to one day event. Since shops were closed we had to manage without many things. There was no band, baja and barat and we saved some money on this. Facebook was a saving grace through which we could connect to friends and relatives," said Anuj.
Many families who had postponed their wedding plans last year due to the first wave of Covid, did not take any chance this time around and decided to tie the knot following all Covid guidelines due to the continuing uncertainties.
“I had been postponing my wedding for the past one and a half year. But we never know if the Covid situation will get better or become worse in the coming days. We decided to hold it at our rooftop all within the family. Elders remembered their days when weddings used to be held at homes and not in hotels and madaps without showoffs and buffets. This is not a time for celebrations when the entire world is fighting against a deadly virus,” said Sasmita Mohanta, who got married just before the beginning of the second wave in March this year.
Of all the experiences of a wedding, shopping is one that has been totally stopped due to the pandemic. “I had always imagined shopping hard on saris, jewellery and cosmetics for my wedding, but lockdown spoiled everything. Due to lockdown shops selling unessential items like garments and jewellery remained closed in Bhubaneswar. My sister who stays in Hyderabad made video calls and shopped for me from there. Most of the shopping starting from gifts for the in-laws to garments, we shopped online,” said Radhika Swain, a newly-wed bride adding that she has no other regrets for a trimmed wedding reception.
The wedding industry also incurred huge losses as the pandemic spoiled the wedding season starting from tent house owners, caterers, mandaps, florists, band party and DJ bands, beauticians, photographers, and video camera operators. However, they said they have trimmed their packages accordingly.
“Earlier people used to book photographers for one week ahead of the wedding but now weddings are only one- or two-day affairs. To remain afloat in business we have also trimmed our packages and broken it into smaller deals,” said Ranjan Sahu, a wedding photographer.