By Dhirendra Prasad Sah

Rajbiraj, June 16: The lockdown had put a stop to normal life as we knew it, and that included weddings. But as the nationwide lockdown was relaxed partially after nearly three months, the marriage ceremonies that had so far been put off are now beginning to take place.
The Nepali months of Baisakh, Jestha, Asar, Mangsir, Magh and Falgun are considered auspicious months to hold weddings for Hindus while the Nepali month of Chaitra is preferred for weddings by Muslims. But the lockdown made it impossible to hold weddings in the months of Chaitra, Baisakh and Jestha and not many propitious days are left in the remaining months. So, people of all communities are rushing to get married right now.
Parents are also in a haste to get their children married because many of them had already arranged everything when the lockdown happened, pouring cold water on all their plans.
Nasrul Miya is one such person who had fixed his daughter’s marriage in Falgun and was ready to organise the wedding ceremony when the shutdown was imposed. Akhtar Aalam was also ready to get his son hitched in Chaitra when the lockdown forced him to defer his plans. Phuleshwor Yadav had even fixed the date of May 21 for his daughter’s wedding. But the lockdown forced him to cancel it. Now, he is consulting for another auspicious date.
Since the lockdown is finally relaxed, parents and couples want to get married as soon as possible so that all their preparations do not go to waste.
“Had the lockdown not happened, more than a thousand couples would have tied the nuptial knot in these past 83 days,” said Ram Prasad Sah, who works as a marriage agent. “I myself had fixed around 60 marriages for Baisakh. They will all happen now.” Sah’s experience is shared by other agents of other communities as well.
Similarly, even those who were not set to get married before the lockdown utilised this period to contact prospective partners, families and move marriage proposals forward through the agents. These people are also ready to get married at the earliest.
Marriages are an expensive affair that require pouring money for the decorations, inviting friends and family and holding feasts. There is additional pressure for the girl’s side because they have to host the procession (Janti) that comes from the boy’s side and arrange the dowry items, especially so in the Terai areas. But in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, authorities are preventing people from holding large gatherings and celebrations. That is why parents are opting to hold smaller, more modest weddings this season.