Planets flash marital-bliss signal

Deepa Suryanarayan/Megha Chaturvedi/Sanghita Singh

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Don’t be surprised if the evening sky is lit up by a thousand firecrackers this weekend. It is not Diwali. It’s the Great Indian Wedding season and everyone is celebrating. From couples eager to tie the knot, and their guests, to the pandits who will perform the wedding. The unions represent a welcome gift for wedding planners, beauticians, caterers, bands, banquet hall managers, and even horse owners.

The couples chasing celestial deadlines are setting a breathless pace for gaiety. Ask the Shahs — Jyoti and Jai — who tied the knot in Mumbai on Thursday. “It was a case of chatt-mangani patt byaah. We just got engaged a month ago,” Jyoti said. “But the astrologer told us there would be no better day than December 14 to get married.”

In Delhi, it is estimated that 66,000 weddings took place over Tuesday and Wednesday. Evidence of joyous plunges was seen in the form of traffic snarls, swamped florists, and packed venues on those two days. “We have issued advisories telling people not to take out processions, or park cars on the road,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmad. “Music has been banned after 10:30pm and we have deployed extra personnel to take care of the rush.”

Adil Ansari, whose cousin married on December 13, had his flower-buying plan nipped in the bud by guests at rival weddings. “I couldn’t manage a single bouquet at 7:30 in the evening,” Ansari said. “The rush was tremendous.”

According to Mumbai-based astrologer Anupam Kapil, December is very auspicious for marriage.

“For the past two months, most of the planets have not been in favourable alignment,” Kapil said. “But this order changed after December 6. Venus, which is the prime signifier of marriage, is in the ascendancy.”

Hindu marriages are based on the concept of mahurat, which is, in turn, based on the propitious alignment of planets. “Thursdays, Fridays, and Mondays are generally considered auspicious,” said astrologer Harsh Khiraiya. “This month, the 15th, 16th, and 29th are the most auspicious days on which to get married.” Another reason couples are rushing to the altar this month is because the first half of January is considered inauspicious. “The marriage season will begin again only after January 15, after Makar Sankranti,” said Khiraiya.

The current period of fortune has pleased other people - like caterers. “If Delhi is hosting 30,000 weddings this weekend, can aamchi Mumbai be far behind?” said Amar Jog, COO, Kamballa Hospitality, a catering service with presence in both metros.

“All five of our outdoor venues, restaurants, and caterers are fully booked for this month, for daytime ceremonies, and the late-night pheras, which are the norm in certain communities,” said Jog. His outdoor-venue theme, ‘Village: The Soul of India’, has found great favour among wedding parties. “The wedding takes place in a typical Rajasthani village setting,” he said.

Rajiv Sood of New Delhi Tent House said business in the capital in 2006 has been better than last year. “Popular pandal themes range from Egyptian ambience in the night to village-based themes during the day,” Sood said. “For one party, we worked on a peacock theme. All décor aspects - from cushions to the barbecue backdrop - had peacock motifs.”

In Mumbai, caterers could be forgiven for strutting around like peacocks. “Catering services are now available at premium rates,” said Shrinidhi Rao, COO, Mayfair Rooms. “We are fully booked for every single day this month.”

As far as client requirement is concerned, Indian food still is primary demand. “But people are expecting more innovations in presentation,” said Rao.