Pandemic mars marriage season but wedding registrations up

The Covid-19 pandemic may have marred the marriage season, forcing postponements, but the first six months of the year have still witnessed an upsurge in the number of marriage registrations in Prayagraj.

Records at the office of the registrar of marriages for the first six months state that 527 couples got their marriages registered during this period, a bulk of them being in the age group of 40-52 years.

In 2019, only 447 couples had registered their marriages between January and June, officials said.

Records, however, showed that the total registrations in 2019 were more than 1,000. In 2018, the registration for this period was even lesser at 439. Records show that this year, 15% more people have got their marriages registered between January and June than in 2019, officials said.

Of the 527 people whose marriages were registered this year, 299 couples are between 42 and 56 years of age. Their marriages took place 10 to 15 years back. In this too, the maximum registrations have been done between

June and August, informed sub registrar-I Kamla Devi.

On probable reasons, she said that the registrations of weddings have now increased and the main reason for this ranges from getting benefit of insurance schemes and other welfare initiatives of the state and the central governments, besides being listed as a spouse and next of kin of government servants.

Besides, many people also apply for registration of marriages at the time of applying for a visa for going abroad, she added.

The sub registrar, however, conceded that registration of marriages was just a fraction of the total marriages that take place annually in the district.

Allahabad high court advocate Devendra Pratap Singh said that the practise of marriage registrations have picked up since 2006, when the Supreme Court made it mandatory to register all marriages in India. A marriage certificate is a legally binding documentary proof of marriage, he added

Talking about the documents required for getting a marriage registered, he said that marriages can now be registered online. After this, the person will be given a date on which it is mandatory for husband and wife to reach the sub registrar’s office. Both the identity card, photo, certificate of the operator of the marriage party, in which the marriage ceremony took place, or the corporator of the locality, or the head of the village have to be given. Also the testimony of two or more witnesses from both sides, who attended the wedding ceremony, is required.

RECORDS AT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS STATE THAT 527 COUPLES GOT THEIR MARRIAGES REGISTERED