In
Kashmir, traditionally the marriage season starts from October and
continues throughout the winter. This year this tradition has been
disturbed and many decided to advance the dates because of the
4-phases elections in the state.
People
are deciding their wedding dates according to the election because of
anticipated tension and violence.
Imams,
who conduct marriages in the valley, said that by September 8 nearly
70 percent of planned marriages had already been solemnized.
However,
the months before October are not the best ones to get married in
Kashmir. But there is no choice. Elections are often followed with
curfew and violence.
Majid,
a resident of Srinagar, whose marriage last year was postponed because
of custodial killing of a relative, doesn't want to miss marriage this
year. Another person from Srinagar, Tariq Shameem, who was married
last fortnight, thinks "better earlier than never".
The
number of bridegrooms coming to shrines for divine blessings doubled
after the election dates. Now 20-25 bridegrooms come for blessings
every day to the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. Around this time, only
10-15 bridegrooms came last year, said an attendant. On the shrine of
Syed Yaqoob, a medieval saint, nearly 20 bridegrooms were coming every
day.
Vendors
and shopkeepers around the shrines are happy because their earnings
have increased. The bridegrooms go to the shrines with a large number
of people. So they are earning more.
Timings
of the marriages have also undergone change. People avoid going to
evening marriage parties to avoid curfews and stoppage by security
patrols. These days marriages are being organized in the mornings
instead of evenings.
Marriage
in the valley is a very special occasion. They are the time for
feasting and rejoicing. Specially trained chefs known as wazas are
called to prepare the sumptuous Kashmiri cuisine wazawan. The chefs
are paid handsomely. They are paid equal to the total cost of the meat
they cook, which could mean an earning of nearly Rs 25,000-30,000 per
day during the festive season. Meat items like gushtaba, rishta,
roghan josh, tabaq maz, qorma, kabab mirch chetni, abgosh are
prepared.
When
the feasts start, the guests are expected not to stand up during the
feasting because this is considered a discourtesy to the host. There
are many servings of food. An entire course usually takes up nearly
two hours to complete.
Singing
and dancing, which had decreased during the decade-long militancy, are
slowly staging a comeback through marriage parties. During banquet, a
group of local singers sings local songs and local musical instruments
like rabab, sarangi are used.
Marriages
during a particular season also mean delivery boom around June-July
next year. Maternity wards in government hospitals are hard-pressed to
cope with the rush and therefore private maternity hospitals are
mushrooming in Kashmir
