Cops permit bands, but wedding season is almost gone

Nagpur: City police chief BK Upadhyay’s decision to allow musical bands during weddings is a welcome change for families having a wedding in current times. The bands can have maximum of 10 musicians. The top cop, along with collector, is now trying to ensure the wedding halls too get permission from the state.

The band owners, already heartbroken with most of the wedding season over, too tried to strike a happy note with the development. Upadhyay, who decided to green signal bands to make marriages more festive, said the band musicians would be included in the mandatory 50 guests allowed for such ceremony by the government.

“It’s up to the families to decide whether they want 40 guests and 10 musicians or 45 with five or in whichever equation that will ensure total presence within 50. The police stations have been instructed to this effect,” he said. “Bands are to be played in front of the homes with the musicians following Covid distancing and other norms,” he said.

Upadhyay said the lawns have been disallowed by the central government but he was trying to get wedding halls permitted. “In halls, there are better chances to maintain distancing than in a house where 50 guests are difficult to accommodate,” he said. “We have written to the state government for the approval,” he said.

Suraj Thakur, owner of New Uttam band at Gandhiputla, said people awareness is needed about the decision on bands.

Sunil Taywade, owner of Suraj Band at Khamla, said the decision was a morale booster but he was uncertain about the business he may now get now.

“With the rainy season and lockdown having impacted the financial condition of the families, especially the middle class that is the biggest clientele, the scenario remains bleak for us,” Taywade said.

“Covid distancing is no problem but we are not sure how the musicians using mouth instruments would play with masks on,” he said.


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