Big fat Indian weddings: coronavirus pandemic’s latest casualty?

Millions of weddings are held every year in India, many being lavish, over-the-top celebrations that fuel an estimated US$50 billion industry

But social distancing and attendance limits in the age of coronavirus look to have made these huge community affairs a thing of the past, for now

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Hospitality professional Tehzeeb Behbahany, right, and her pilot fiancé Ozair were forced to change their wedding plans because of the pandemic. Photo: Kalpana Sunder / Handout

Published: 4:00pm, 12 Jul 2020Updated: 9:15pm, 12 Jul 2020

Akbar Iqbal and Shahina Ahmed had planned the wedding of their dreams. There was going to be mehndi (henna body art), lunch, dancing, dinner, a signing ceremony and a reception large enough for 1,000 people at a five-star hotel so their parents could invite “everyone they knew”.

But then along came the coronavirus pandemic. The couple ultimately settled for a simple ceremony at Shahina’s home in Chennai, with masks, hand sanitiser and a small group of 15 people including their parents, a couple of close friends and the officiating kazi (priest). It was live-streamed for their friends and family to watch.

“We have no regrets, because both of us don’t enjoy too much attention on us, but it would have been nice to have some close friends and Akbar’s brother who could not attend the wedding as he was abroad,” Shahina said.

India’s wedding market is estimated to be worth about US$50 billion, according to a report published by KPMG in 2017, with between 10-12 million ceremonies taking place each year. The average person in India is known to spend a significant chunk of their wealth on getting married.

A view of the illuminated City Palace in Udaipur, one of the venues for the pre-wedding celebrations of Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha in 2018. Photo: Reuters

Ordinarily, Indian weddings are gala celebrations and community affairs, which involve the coming together of families and all their relatives and friends. They are flamboyant and over-the-top, often incorporating lavish venues in far-flung destinations, haute couture bridal wear, fireworks, and exotic cuisine prepared by expert chefs. It is not uncommon for those who can afford it to hire elephants and horses for the event and fly in famous entertainers and musicians from abroad.