One of the most cried about reasons that the united opposition banked upon to curse the Union government’s demonetization strike was marriages across the country.
Right from central leadership of different parties to those at state level, all appeared deeply worried about the fund-raising capabilities of ‘poor father’ of grooms and brides after Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes were announced invalid tenders, except at government and allied counters.
However, if banquet halls and those required to make such occasions successful are to be believed, the ban would be beaten with full blow and city guys are going to ride on mares like any other year.
According to data available through different windows, the city banquet halls would host around 2,000 marriages in rest of November and December this year, as summer season of this year was dominated by unfavourable heavenly stars for marriages resulting in almost no marriages taking place those days. However, none of the half a dozen banquet halls and their caterers found to be free for any fresh booking, when enquired today.
“The situation is not as ugly as some television channels are describing. We are all fully booked for rest of this month and next month, when there is a marriage taking place on almost every other day. To the best of my knowledge, I have not come across any cancellation offer so far which I could say without doubt that it was cancelled or postponed due to non-availability of funds. Neither have we been reached out for any such queries, nor the caterers whom I know,” said Mangalam Banquet Hall Operator Amit Kumar.
However, he added that he did come across a couple of unconfirmed news of a few marriages being cancelled or postponed due to sudden invalidity of bigger notes, which required a fresh kind of dealing for dowry. “One of my competitors has come across one request of booking being cancelled, where groom’s father was reportedly found uncomfortable to deal with dowry cash in changed circumstance like this,” Kumar added.
The manager of Milan Palace also said that most of the bookings and their payments for November and December were made prior to November 8, when there was no such problem. Contrary to this, people are finding it better to arrange additional cash if needed in place of calling for cancellation, because they know that they would find it extremely difficult to get their amount back in Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes the way they had made payments,” said Milan Palace Manager Karanveer Kumar.
However, what is driving the market, and would continue to drive for some time is the ‘Jugad’. “We wouldn’t be able to take entire amount in cash.
But yes, we can accept a mix of old and new notes only seeing that the auspicious occasions like this shouldn’t be postponed just due to money,” said Manager of a banquet hall requesting anonymity.
He also offered same for the caterers and flower suppliers and all those of anything to do with a marriage or any other function.