J&K govt bans big fat weddings, puts curbs on spending on other functions
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: The big fat Kashmiri weddings known for their extravagant celebrations and multi-course wazwans will get trimmer from April this year.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday announced restrictions on the number of guests to be invited and specified the number of dishes that can be served at both public and private gatherings, mostly weddings, in a bid to limit wastage of food and essential commodities in such ceremonies.
Addressing the media in Jammu on Tuesday, minister of consumer affairs and public distribution Choudhary Zulfkar Ali said the government has imposed the restrictions after it received complaints regarding “injudicious use of essential commodities and extravagant expenditures being made in both private and public functions’’.
It has been observed that large quantities of food items, besides beverages, fruits, sweets etc are not only being served during these functions but most of it gets wasted and is thrown into dustbins, the government notification stated. While families will be allowed to invite only 500 people for their daughter’s wedding, the number has been restricted to 400 if one’s son is getting married. And only 100 people can be invited for smaller ceremonies like engagements.
The wedding menu is also likely to be restricted and nonvegetarian dishes cannot exceed more than seven with only two servings of fruits and sweets.
The government also put a ban on the use of crackers and loudspeakers for both government functions and weddings. The order, however, does not specify whether loudspeakers can be used during public speeches of the chief minister and other political leaders.