It was a Saturday but almost the entire Lucknow was dressed in its Sunday best.
With almost 1,200 weddings — big and small — being solemnised in the state capital in a single day on Saturday, it was one mammoth party for all. Saturday was particularly auspicious for weddings since it happened to be the “Prabodhini Ekadashi”, the day when Tulsi married Saligram, a form of Lord Vishnu.
All marriage lawns, banquet halls and even private bungalows were booked to capacity and scores of wedding spilled on to resorts on the outskirts of the state capital.
“We had to accommodate three weddings in our marriage lawns on Saturday. One was held on the main lawn, the second on the backyard that is otherwise used to cook food and third in our parking space. All three were asked to bring cooked food from outside and serve it there,” says S.K. Shukla, who owns a marriage lawn in Talkatora area.
Five star hotels in Lucknow also hosted three to five weddings each on Saturday, leading to an unpleasant mix-up of guests.
With the demand far exceeding the supply, several wedding processions had to go without the traditional “band-baaja” in the “baraat”.
“We had five appointments for the baraats, beginning at 7 pm and if the baraat does not move out at the appointed time, it is just too bad and we will move on because we have other commitments,” says Shiv Shankar of Sony Brass Band.
Caterers too are over booked but most of them were prepared for the Saturday onslaught. “We had hired service boys and staff well in advance because we knew that this was a day of maximum bookings and we cannot afford to compromise on quality. We have also suggested menus that are different and do not require long hours of cooking and our clients have happily accepted the change. We are focusing on snacks and not so much on the main menu,” said a leading caterer.
For wedding planners, Saturday was a day to innovate and earn appreciation.’