20,000 weddings in Ahmedabad during November and December

Ahmedabad is all set to celebrate the next two months as marriage season. In the months of November and December some 20,000 couples will tie the knot in the city as there are only a few auspicious dates for the wedding season in these months.

"This has happened due to a few star signs that are either in a transition phase or in a debilitating phase," said Keyur Dave a city-based astrologer. He added that there are only 14 auspicious days for marriages. Another astrologer Bhavesh Patni said there is another reason for non-availability of auspicious dates in 2009.  "During December and March, the Sun will be transiting into the Jupiter's sign, i.e. Sagittarius and Pisces in which the Sun becomes weak. So there will be two periods of Kamurta, a period when marriages cannot take place."

Astrologer Harshida Mehta said, "Venus will stay in a debilitating state for a long time this year and hence there are very few auspicious dates when one can get married. The period from November 4 to November 27 is favourable for most of the star signs and hence majority of the marriages will take place in this period."

Astrologer Dharmendrasinh Zala who will be performing some 200 marriage ceremonies said that of the few auspicious dates available for marriage, November 25 and 26 will see the maximum number of weddings taking place.

But the non-resident Gujaratis are not bothered by the lack of auspicious dates for marriage. "Majority of the NRI weddings take place in the winter, especially during the Christmas holidays, that falls under the Kamurta. However the NRI's do not bother about inauspicious dates. All that they want is that the date should be convenient as per their schedule," said Zala.