Indian-controlled Kashmir bans lavish weddings

The local government in Indian-controlled Kashmir has banned lavish weddings and exuberant celebrations.

The move according to officials was aimed at keeping a check on excessive spendings to ensure there was minimum wastage of food during such events.

"The Government yesterday issued 'Guest Control Order' to impose restrictions on injudicious use of essential commodities during social, government and private functions, besides putting complete ban on use of amplifiers, loud speakers, and fire crackers in such functions," a government spokesman said Wednesday.

The government order which will come into effect from April 1 this year has restricted the number of guests and dishes at the weddings.

"The number of guests to be invited on marriage of daughter including baraat (guests accompanying bridegroom) should be restricted to a maximum of 500, while for marriage of son, the number should not exceed 400. For functions like ring ceremony of son, daughter and other small functions the number of guests invited should be 100 only," Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali said.

Weddings in Indian-controlled Kashmir are expensive. A multi-course cuisine prepared on marriage ceremonies for guests locally called Wazwan involves huge quantities of mutton and chicken.

The new directive has put restrictions on number of dishes as well.

"Number of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes should be restricted to a maximum of seven each, besides, two stalls of sweets or ice cream," Ali said. "The law is same for everyone, and would be applied to all, irrespective, of his or her status in the society."

In past as well local government has issued similar curbs of guest control, however, the law could not be implemented.

Weddings are usually a costly affair across India and most of the people spend lavishly on food, clothes and entertainment during marriage ceremonies. Endit