Gaus Sivani/New Delhi: When Ayat, 22, of Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, was planning her wedding, she could hardly imagine that far from the trappings of a fat Indian weddding, it would turn out to be an ideal Islamic function.

She and her groom took their nuptial vows in the local mosque in presence of members of their families. Thanks to Corona Pandemic the function was sans a big party thrown for friends and extended families or ‘barat.’ Thanks to Corona Pandemic, Muslims are also forced to turn away from the big fat weddings and are conforming to the ways suggested in Quoran.

Though it sounds ironic, the pandemic has come as a Godsend to most Indians who would have to spend big amounts on solemnising weddings under social pressure. The restrictions on movement of people; disruption in train and air services and rule for limiting the invitees to a wedding have put curtains on the lavish Indian weddings.

Only if this trend could continue to make life easier for those with no means to indulge in such weddings.

Simplicity has come to mark even interstate weddings. Like Rehan, an enginner from Shaheen Bagh of Delhi had to solemnise his wedding in Mumbai. He was accompanied by his sisters for the wedding that was solemnised in the presence of handful of relatives of the bride.

Not only Muslims but other Indian communities are also resorting to asture and simple wedddings. The Goyal family of Bardoli in Surat, Gujarat, gave up their plans for a grand wedding for their son. The wedding was held in a temple and it was joined only by about 3,000 friends and relative. The family donated the funds designated for the function to the PMcares fund.

Reasons for simple weddings

The wedding patterns have also changed because of the tragic events unfolding around due to the pandemic. For example in Paliganj, Patna, Bihar, a groom died due two days after his wedding. After his death, he was found to have contracted Corona virus. Among the guests who attended the wedding, at least 24 were found Corona positive.

These days, wedding invitation cards also have instructions for guests to keep COVID-19 away. The tagline for a particular card was: “Do gaz doori, mask hai zaroori (social distancing and mask wearing is compulsory).” In another card the guests were instructed to wear mask while walking out of their homes. Masks were also distrubuted among the guests at the venue.

Shamim, who runs a business of printing wedding cards, says his clients ask him to print a social message on the card to create awareness about pandemic.

However, this trend fo simple weddings have caused worry to traders and big businesses involved in the big fat Indian wedding. These include owners of wedding halls,wedding gardens, caterers, music bands, printing press, wedding planners and traders who live off the trend of the big fat Indian wedding. etc.