Weddings amid night curfew, Kangra residents worried

Appeal to govt to impose curfew from 10 pm to 5 am during marriage season

Our Correspondent

Nurpur, December 9

Residents of lower Kangra district, who have wedding ceremonies of their children scheduled for early December, are perturbed over the night curfew imposed by the state government following a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in four districts. The curfew will remain imposed from 8 pm to 6 am, and the families are worried about solemnising night ceremonies.

Baldev Singh of Bhol-Thakran, Swarna Devi of Ward number 5 of Nurpur town, Praveen Kumar of Chuwari, Salli Ram of Janoon and Bitta of Labh said they were unaware of the restrictions when they scheduled marriage ceremonies at night. They had restricted the gathering during community lunch (dham), but could not manage other marriage ceremonies that take place during night. ‘Baraat’ usually arrives during late evening, which was making them anxious, they said.

They demanded curfew relaxation for those who have marriage ceremonies.

Some families, who had deferred the marriages of their children during April and May due to the pandemic, had rescheduled these in November and December. They lamented that now they were not in a position to defer the marriages again till April next year. They said they were facing difficulties in meeting their family obligations of solemnising the marriage of their children in early December.

They have appealed to the state government to enforce night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am during the marriage season, which will end on December 10.