Wedding halls hit as people go for simple functions amid Covid

Shilpa P. | NT

The Covid 19 pandemic has forced people to tone down weddings, as the government has imposed a limit on the number of guests to ensure social distancing. People have switched to simple weddings to avoid government action and tide over economic hardships caused by the pandemic.

In many households, wedding expenses have come down to a third of pre-pandemic times.

However, the biggest losers are the wedding hall and Choultry owners, who claim they have lost at least Rs 30-40 lakh in the past two years. Now that the government has eased the seating norms for cinema halls and restaurants, the Chaultry owners association of Mysuru has urged the State government to lift the restriction of allowing only 200 members in wedding halls.

Mysuru Chaultry owners association President, Mr K R Sathyanarayan, said that, when government has allowed 100 per cent occupancy of movie theatres, gyms and even bars and restaurants, they should now allow 100 per cent occupancy for wedding halls too, while ensuring that Covid safety protocols are taken.

Sathyanarayan owns Sindhoor convention hall, KVR Wedding bells and is a partner of Sapthapadi convention center here. He told News Trail, “Due to Covid 19 pandemic, with government has restricted the number of people attending wedding functions. Though wedding hall owners are offering 25 to 30 per cent discount, nearly 25 per cent families have switched to simple weddings in smaller halls in hotels and temples. Many wedding hall owners had to return 50 per cent of the advance payments made by them.”

He said that in the preCovid days, hardly two per cent people performed simple weddings at temples or party halls in hotels. Families that used to spend a minimum Rs 15 lakh for a wedding, are now spending Rs 5 lakh.

Another development is that now temples are offering packages for wedding ceremonies, including rituals and food cost, those getting married in temples have gone up. Even among those going for simple weddings, only 15 per cent of them are organising it at hotel party halls, he said.

He said if the government allows 100 per cent occupancy at wedding halls it will help revive the business. Moreover, the State gets 9 per cent of SGT and Centre 9 per cent of GST from wedding halls and hence such a more will also help improve collection.