Bridegrooms running late are fined Rs 100 per minute in this Uttar Pradesh village

RAMPUR (UP), March 31: They are neither part of a Khap's diktat nor any Fatwa from clerics, but Taunkpuri Tanda village here follows certain interesting norms during their marriages including penalizing the groom's party Rs 100 per minute if they turn up late at the venue.

The villagers also believe that it is auspicious if both the bride and the groom belong to the same village.

"A marriage party arriving in Taunkpuri Tanda village from any other village, city or province is deemed as impious," said Maulana Arshad, cleric of the village.

"This tradition helps our daughters and sisters remain safe from the ill-intention of anti-social elements emerging rapidly everywhere due to neglect and apathy towards moral and religious values established by our ancestors," he added.

The village with a population of around 10,000 people, also follows some interesting norms during the marriage ceremonies such as penalising the groom's party for turning up late, not allowing dancing in streets and beating of drums and avoiding wastage of food items.

"The marriage processions are supposed to reach the brides' place exactly at the time fixed by Maulvis. In case the marriage party reaches late, the grooms' parents have to pay fine of Rs 100 per minute and due to this practice that Nikah ceremonies here are performed at the fixed time, whereas elsewhere the time schedule is rarely honoured," Arshad said.

"Dancing in streets and beating of drums is completely prohibited. We observe all the practices and pleasantries but the villagers here discard the undesired expenditure, pomp and show and do not allow wastage of food items," he added.

PTI