14 May,2010 09:22 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
After 5 months without any auspicious dates, there's a mad rush for mangal karyalays in second half of this month
Engaged couples in the city are headed for marriage halls in a mad dash to tie the knot after a five-month muhurt dry spell. A 25-day window of auspicious dates opens on Saturday, a day before Akshay Tritiya.
Going by venue bookings in the city, over 5,000 weddings are expected this month alone from the time the auspicious period begins.
The frenzy to get married this month ufffd or, depending on which almanac you follow, latest before June 9, after which the unfavourable period begins again, and lasts till October ufffd has left wedding-related businesses with their hands full. The preparations for weddings in the fortnight from Saturday to the end of the month have already made them busy like never before.
Their busiest day, of course, is going to be Akshay Tritiya, one of the most popular days for wedding .
Most of the 350 marriage halls in and city and suburbs are booked, and now grounds at schools and colleges are being hired for marriage functions.
"The demand this time is phenomenal. It is something that hasn't happened in a long time. We estimate we will do at least 20 per cent more business this season compared to last year," said Avinash Naik, president, Pune Catering Association. "Normally, the turnover that all marriage halls taken together see during this season is about Rs 4 crore; sometimes when the demand is higher it goes up to Rs 4.5 crore. But this year we anticipate that a turnover of Rs 5.35 crore will be touched."
According to Naik, the average cost of a wedding with 500 guests in attendance is Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
"The per plate cost of food has also gone up by 7 to 8 per cent," he said. "Earlier, it was about Rs 120, now
it is between Rs 130 and Rs 140."
Prabhakar Kajrekar, manager of Shree Annapurna Caterers and Shruti Mangal Karyalay, said bookings were made six months ago.
"The scale is also bigger. There are more evening receptions and parties, besides the actual number of weddings going up."
Aruna Dhobale, manager, Siddhi Garden marriage lawns near Mhatre Bridge, said people are still booking for the marriage reception parties.
Ramchandra Kulkarni, a priest from Mangalwar Peth, said that at least 2,000 priests from the old city area alone had been booked for weddings.
Fatechand Ranka, president, Maharashtra State Jewellers Association, said since the price of gold had touched Rs 18,350 per 10 gram, people were buying gold but the quantity will go down.
"In Pune and Pune district, Rs 300 crore is what people spend during the wedding season," said Ranka.
