Marriage ceremonies get simpler in the Valley before Ramzan

Srinagar, Aug 19 (UNI) With just about two weeks left before the start of holy month of Ramzan, when almost all social functions come to a halt, hundreds of marriages are being solemnised daily in the Kashmir Valley, where two-month-long agitation in the state over Amarnath land row had forced the people to halt all ceremonies.

Generally, marriage ceremonies are not performed in Kashmir in the holy month of Ramzan, which is to start from September first, subject to the appearance of the moon.

The alleged economic blockade actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the people of Kashmir who are now holding marriage ceremonies in a simple manner.

For the past about one month, people are giving advertisements in almost all local English and Urdu dailies, informing relatives and friends about the cancellation of big feasts on the occasion of marriages of their sons and daughters.

Because of the unpredictable situation, majority of people are now preparing just a few kgs of meat on the occasion instead of quintals. However, local vegetables are still in demand.

Marriages were conducted in local mosques and those present were treated with dry dates and sweets.

People in general, appreciated the move and demanded that the same should continue in future.

General Secretary of the Valley Citizen Council (VCC) Imdad Saqi said this was for the first time in the history of Kashmir that people were imposing self restraint on wasteful expenditure during the marriage ceremonies.

He said in the past despite imposition of guest control by the government, people were spending lakhs of rupees on a marriage ceremony.

Mr Saqi said economic blockade imposed by some communal organisations of Jammu, was infact a blessing in disguise for the people of the Valley, who were spending crores of rupees on marriages and other functions.

''We were spending crores of rupees on bringing the meat, diposable items and other things from Jammu and other northern states, for hosting marriage feast and other ceremonies,'' Mr Saqi said adding as people had been preparing more than a dozen varities of meat besides half a dozen vegetable dishes on various ceremonies.

''Because of the economic blockade, people have realised the need for self restrain,'' Mr Saqi added.

He said people should help the poor families with the money they were planning to spend on the marriage ceremonies and that self-restrain by the people on huge expenditure on marriages will definitely have its impact on businessmen in Jammu.

UNI BAS AKJ NS1534