Temple weddings fade as regulations tighten in Hampi

Hampi (Vijayanagara): For generations, the ancient temples of Hampi resonated with wedding chants, particularly on auspicious occasions such as Basava Jayanti, when 20 to 30 marriages were once solemnised in a single day. Revered as Pampakshetra—where Parvati is believed to have married Lord Shiva—and associated with the Kishkindha region of the Ramayana, Hampi held deep spiritual significance for Hindu families, who believed marriages performed here were divinely blessed.However, this long-standing tradition has witnessed a sharp decline in recent years. Earlier, families needed only a special darshan ticket, priced at Rs 1,000 and issued by the religious endowment department, to conduct weddings within temple precincts. The appeal lay in the simplicity of the ceremony, the sacred ambience and its emotional and spiritual value.For many couples, beginning married life in one of Hinduism's most revered temple settings was considered a blessing in itself. Today, however, weddings at Hampi's historic temples have become increasingly rare due to stringent regulations imposed by the central and state archaeology departments and the religious endowment department, coupled with poor coordination among them.Cooking, photography restrictions deter familiesRestrictions on cooking and photography within temple premises have emerged as major deterrents. In Indian weddings, community meals are an integral part of the celebration, while photography is essential to preserve memories. The absence of these elements has led many families to feel that temple weddings are incomplete.Adding to the confusion, the religious endowment department maintains that permission from the archaeology department is mandatory, while officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) state that approving or rejecting weddings does not fall under their purview and that their role is limited to protecting monuments. Caught between conflicting interpretations, many families now opt for private wedding halls despite preferring a temple ceremony in Hampi.That said, simple weddings without pomp reportedly continue in temple premises. Priests are said to perform rituals for couples as long as the ceremonies do not involve feasts, photography or large gatherings. The restrictions have also impacted other traditional practices, including children's head-shaving ceremonies, which earlier involved special pujas and community meals.Vijayanagara DC Kavita S Mannikeri said she would review how weddings were conducted in the past and explore ways to ensure the tradition continues while adhering to departmental rules.Echoing concerns, Anjaneyalu, executive officer of the religious endowment department in Hampi, said hundreds of weddings used to take place every year. "Due to the rules laid down by the Archaeological Survey of India, weddings have now become rare. Permission from the ASI is mandatory for conducting weddings," he said.Quote-We have never imposed restrictions on weddings. Protecting monuments is our responsibility. We have no objection to conducting weddings near the temple as per the rules. But we never granted permission for weddings.-Ramakrishna Reddy, ASI superintendent, Hampi Circle