Record 4,000 Jaipur Weddings in One Week Amid Rise in Covid Cases

The state government has set a limit of 100 guests and the mandatory use of masks at weddings.

Jaipur:

A record number of weddings will take place in Rajasthan from Wednesday to November 30, which is one of the most auspicious dates for wedding ceremonies on the Hindu calendar. The state capital, Jaipur, is likely to witness a record 4,000 weddings during the period.

The weddings, which take place at a time when the state reports more than 3,000 cases of coronavirus daily, has caused nervousness among health officials.

Covid cases in Rajasthan have seen an increase of 1.34% since the last four days. The state’s number of active cases has passed the 26,000 mark; Jaipur continues to report more than 600 cases, the highest in the entire state. The rebound in the state capital worried authorities so much that a night curfew and other measures were announced this week.

The Ashok Gehlot government has also set a limit of 100 guests and the mandatory wearing of masks at weddings across the state.

“Yes, I felt bad that a lot of my friends couldn’t attend, especially those from abroad, but I guess smaller gatherings are safer too,” says Niharika Singh, a future wife.

Her mother Usha adds: “We have such a large social circle, but if you see here the guests are less than 100. Now some people have refused because they are afraid to venture, but for us it does not work financially. As we still have to pay. one hundred guests since the catering and the organizer will charge a minimum for the food and the place, so it is said that I wish more people had come since we have made all the arrangements.

The state capital Jaipur alone will host a record 4,000 weddings on November 25, 27 and 30, the three most auspicious days for weddings this season. But with a rise in Covid in the city, it’s a cause for concern, especially for those in the wedding business.

“The first thing is to wear a mask or we won’t do the puja. There are so many weddings but we try to avoid overcrowding, for example we don’t let anyone but the bride’s parents sit in the mandap,” says the boss. priest Kamal Chand Shashtri.

But weddings are meant to be high-profile events, and the government is trying to control the situation with some strict guidelines. Guests of no more than 100, mandatory masks for all, use of disinfectants and social distancing at wedding venues are some of the conditions that must be ensured at weddings. Also, people will not be allowed to celebrate baarats (a pre-wedding procession in the streets that sees dozens of people congregate). Any violation of these conditions will result in a fine of 25,000 rupees, the government said.

“We already have section 144, but we have asked people to make a video of the marriage so that if there is any infraction, they can be sanctioned. During the wedding, the police or the administration cannot intervene, but this will work as a deterrent “. when they know after the wedding that they can be fined 10,000 to 25,000 rupees, “said Dr KK Sharma, Health Director of Rajasthan.

But experts say penalizing after weddings won’t help keep the crown chart low. Citing the rise in virus cases after the Diwali festivities, they point out that wedding shopping and wedding gatherings could also lead to an increase in Covid numbers once again.

Rajasthan recorded 3,285 new cases and 18 more Covid-related deaths on Wednesday, according to a health department bulletin. The state’s infection count now stands at 2,53,767, while the total number of deaths in the state has reached 2,218.

The number of active COVID-19 cases is 26,320 in the state.