Banquet hall bookings pick up as curbs ease

PATNA: With the government permitting gathering of 100 individuals in social events from September 21 under Unlock 4.0, wedding business in the city has picked up pace. Marriage gardens, banquet halls, food caterers and wedding photographers in the city are flooded with bookings and queries ahead of the marriage season in November and December.
Anisabad resident Sonal Sinha, who was to tie nuptial knot in June this year, had to postpone her wedding due to Covid-induced lockdown in the city.She is now getting married in November. “I can’t tell you how happy I am. Keeping in mind the risks associated with public gatherings, we have cancelled our previous marriage hall in Khojai Imli as it was small in size. We are now going for a larger banquet hall so that adequate social distancing can be maintained. I have also checked off a few people from our guest list,” she said.
Similarly, Patel Nagar resident and bride-to-be Ankita had to call off her grand wedding in April this year because of travel restrictions. “My fiancé is based in the US. He was unable to travel to Patna in April. Now that many international flights have started operating, he will be here in December for our marriage,” she said.
Since several weddings which were scheduled between March and May are taking place in the upcoming wedding season in November and December, hotels and banquet halls have started registering an increase in bookings.
B D Singh, manager of a five-star hotel in the city, said, “The traditional ‘big fat’ Indian weddings are making a return in the months of ‘Karthika’ and ‘Mrigashira’ according to Hindu calendar. My hotel is fully booked during November and December. We are unable to entertain any more booking request.”
However, even though social gatherings have been permitted with a limited number of people, the raging pandemic continues to spread its tentacles in the city. Hence, wedding organisers are taking all the precautionary steps to minimise the risk of outbreaks during such gatherings.
Mintu Kumar, manager of a banquet hall on Bailey Road, said he has made face masks compulsory for all third-party vendors entering the premises. “I am not allowing anyone without a mask to enter the venue. From food caterers to venue decorators and wedding photographers, masks are compulsory for all. We will also install a thermal screening checkpoint for all the guests. The entire area will be sanitized after every event,” he said.
Dak Bungalow-based wedding photographer Tauseef S pointed said he has been receiving around six to seven calls every day for pre-wedding shoots and wedding photography. “We have started with pre-wedding shoots at various locations around the city. Even during the shoot, we encourage the bride and groom to wear masks. We are trying to come up with creative poses for the couples in masks,” he said.
Masks to match bridal outfits: As the government has made use of face masks necessary to avoid further spread of Covid-19, costume designers and boutique owners in the city have started taking orders for making matching face masks with bridal outfits ahead of the wedding season in November and December.
For instance, would-be-bride Ankita Priya from Patel Nagar has asked her bridal costume designer to weave a matching mask for all her wedding outfits. “Not only for my wedding, I have asked my designer to make matching masks for my pre-wedding shoot outfit as well. My husband will also match his mask with ‘sherwani’,” she said.