Couple ties the knot in simple, quiet ceremony
LUCKNOW A young couple exchanged marriage vows in Durgapuri area here on Sunday, with mere 10 guests and no ostentatious celebration, understandably due to the corona outbreak and subsequent lockdown.
Narendra Kumar Chauhan, 26, and Mala, 25, were all smiles as the pundit presided over the jai-maal and other wedding rituals in a small temple. The family kept it a simple affair because of pandemic COVID-19 curtailing the guest list to just 10 members.
“Earlier, we had planned it for April 9 and then again on May 2. This was the third auspicious date. Both families were reluctant to extend it further,” said Nagendra who works in a private company.
“My grandmother, Uma Devi is over 80. Due to her poor health, she insisted that this wedding should take
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place at the earliest. I had to respect her sentiments,” he said.
Mala’s uncle Uma Shankar said, “Besides a priest there were nine of us, including the couple. We followed the social distancing protocol. Due to lockdown, there was no question of guests arriving here from distant places as public transport system was completely shut.”
Chauhan and his parents reached Durgapuri temple in acar where Mala’s family member greeted the barat with ‘dwarchar’ ritual. “The priesrtthen recited mantras and conducted the jai-mal. We kept it a low key affair because of lockdown. All earlier plan of tying knot in shadi ghar amid presence of guest was shelved,” he said.
Both sides claimed they incurred big losses as several arrangements and advance bookings had to be cancelled.
“Let’s hope and pray the COVID-19 pandemic ends at the earliest so that all may resume normal life. A ceremonial function will be held after this dark phase passes off,” Narendra said.