Late night marriages resume in valley, crackers cause panic

Srinagar, Jun 8 (UNI) Bursting of crackers and holding of marriage ceremonies at night have resumed in Kashmir valley after a gap of more than 15 years.

However, bursting of crackers cause panic with people often mistaking it for militant attacks.

People in the valley had almost forgotten the centuries-old tradition of holding marriage ceremonies at night following the eruption of militancy in 1990. It was considered dangerous to accompany the barat at night.

The marriage ceremonies came to be held during the day and the feast served before sunset so that those invited could return home safely. Singing songs during the ceremony was also limited and there was no question of bursting of crackers because of heavy exchange of fire between militants and security forces several times during the day or night. Security forces hunting for militants, also used to question almost every barati and in some cases, they were also arrested.

However, with the improvement in the situation, the timing of the barat was changed to afternoon but without bursting of crackers.

Now the tradition of late night marriages is being revived and the bridegroom's procession is with all the fanfare, including bursting of crackers on the way.

As the marriage season has just started, bursting of crackers late last night caused panic in the civil lines and down town city.

People mistook the bursting of crackers, that resemble grenade blasts and gunfire, to be a fidayeen attack on security force camps.

The residents made frantic inquiries from media offices and the reporters in turn, contacted the security forces.

It was only after about 30 minutes things become clear that the sound was the bursting of crackers by the relatives of bridegroom during the "bidai" ceremony.

About 100 marriage ceremonies are taking place in the city everyday and bursting of crackers has become part and parcel of the celebrations.

UNI BAS NK DS1623