Two communities in Rajasthan's Pali say no to lavish weddings

JODHPUR: The leaders of two communities in Rajasthan have put out some guidelines that need to be fooled for weddings. No DJs, no fireworks and no riding horseback for the groom are just some of them. The elders of the Pali districts issued these in order to ensure that weddings did not become too expensive.

The Leaders of both Kumawat and Jat communities felt that bearded grooms did not go well with the traditional ceremonies, and therefore have mandated that they come clean shaved. Additionally, they have also put a cap on the gifts that the couple can receive from their relatives that including jewellery, clothes and cash.

The customary offering of opium is also discouraged.

A community of potters, the Kumawat, at a meeting on June 16 of members from 19 villages came up with the rules.

Describing the wedding as a divine affair, they said that the groom was considered king and that the strange beard styles made the a "non-serious and fashion-ridden practice".

Laxmi Narayan Tak, Kumawat community leader said, "So, we decided that no groom of the community will grow any sort of beard and remain clean-shaven."

He added that an exorbitant amount of money was spent on decorations, music and other customs unnecessarily.

"So, we have laid out the rules that there will be no theme weddings, no decoration, no DJ during any procession right from 'bandoli' to 'Barat', and have also decided to put a limit to jewellery and cash as gifts," Tak said.

Similarly, the Jat community from five villages under the Rohet sub-division of Pali also issued rules to facilitate sober wedding ceremonies and decided to stop wedding processions, PTI reports.

"To ensure uniformity in weddings for all families of the community, we have decided to bring some reforms," said Bhakariwala village sarpanch Amnaram Beniwal.

In addition to making it compulsory for the groom to have a clean shave, the reforms also include giving up horseback riding at wedding ceremonies.

The use of a DJ system and fireworks is also discouraged.

Beniwall justified these reforms and said that rich people see marriage as a way to show off, which will bring a sense of inferiority complex to financially distressed families and motivate them to try and be equal to them even if they have to borrow.

"So, with a view to bring equality in the community and uniformity in wedding functions, we have developed these rules," Beniwal said.

Both communities are working out a model to impose penalties or punishment on the violators of these rules.

Adherence to the rules will be mandatory for all those living in the villages.