'T' agitation impacts weddings
Hyderabad, Sept 24 (INN): Sakala Janula Samme in the Telangana region have led to the postponement of hundreds of marriages in Hyderabad in the last one week.
On Saturday alone, more than 100 marriages in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad were postponed while many others were forced to celebrate the occasion as a simple ceremony.
Due to the 48-hour 'Rail Roko' and auto-rickshaw strike as a part of general strike for Telangana state, many people have postponed the marriage to other dates. A similar or more number of marriages scheduled on Sunday too has been postponed.
'About 20 to 30 per cent marriages have been postponed due to Telangana agitation. However, as guests were unable to attend the marriage function due to RTC, rail and auto strike, many people have performed the marriage in a simple ceremony near their houses only,' said Qazi Mohammad Abdul Razzak Naqshbandi Quadri, president of Sunni Qazath Federation.
According to him, on an average about 400 to 600 marriages are performed after the month of Holy Ramzan till the end of Zilhajja which falls on 27th of November. However, this year, due to Telangana agitation 800 to 1,000 marriages got postponed.
'About 15 to 20 per cent marriages in the city and surroundings have been cancelled due to Telangana strike,' said N Janardhan Reddy, president of Ranga Reddy District Function Hall Owners Association.
He told that there were nearly 400 functions halls in the Ranga Reddy district and most of them have reported about cancellation of marriages on Saturday and Sunday.
The strike had a negative impact on the catering business. 'On Saturday we had three separate orders for around 6500 guests. While a Valima dinner has been postponed, two other marriages have limited the order to just 1200 guests,' Vijay Kumar of Vijay Caterers at Red Hills said.
The shop keepers at Pathergatti, Lad Bazar and markets in the Old City which are famous for marriage shopping too have reported a decline in the footfall by over 70 per cent on Saturday.
However, the shop keepers say that the business was on the decline since the beginning of general strike on September 13. 'Our turnovers are less than 30 per cent of what we usually used to do after the month of Holy Ramzan,' MA Majeed of Rajju Bangles at Lad Bazar said.
The business of flowers, which is considered an important constituent of a marriage celebration in Hyderabad, too has reported huge losses due to Telangana agitation.
The wedding industry is estimated to lose at least Rs 10 crore in just two days of Saturday and Sunday.
News Posted: 24 September, 2011
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