The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Marriages too in the grip of inflation

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Sunday, Sep 07, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Marriages too in the grip of inflation

— Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

‘Costly’ convention: A wedding under way at a marriage hall in Tiruchi.

Solemnising a marriage has always proved a big burden for the middle and lower middle class families. The inflationary trend has precipitated their predicament.

Everything associated with the conduct of a marriage means an overburdening fiscal commitment. The spiralling cost of jewellery, the steep hike in labour charges, marriage hall rentals, catering, dress materials and the conventional ‘seer’ have all pushed up the budgets of marriages.

Yet, most families wish to conduct marriages in a ‘fitting manner’ despite the increased financial burden.

M. Parameswaram, an employee of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), who recently performed the marriage of his daughter in the city, says he had to curtail the number of silk saris from the conventional six to four, with due consent from groom’s family.

The marriage expenditure overshot his budget by Rs.1.5 lakh, despite such cost-cutting measures. Although Parameswaran had set aside Rs.2 lakh for catering, he had to incur an additional Rs.75,000 mainly because of the hike in the prices of commodities right from rice to vegetables.

Another major expense was the rent for the marriage hall. Against the previous Rs.20,000 to Rs.25,000 slab, the rentals have increased considerably, citing the increase in the maintenance expenses.

According to marriage-hall managers, the maintenance of marriage-halls poses an additional burden for them. Right from electrical fittings to water pipelines, every aspect has to be carefully monitored. Generators are also to be maintained properly for ensuring a good environment all through the course of the marriage. In addition to the property tax, the half-yearly charges for clearing the plantain leaves and other services being rendered by the Corporation was another burden.

Similar is the case of S. Raman of Pazhuvur village near Tiruchi, whose sister-in-law’s marriage is scheduled shortly. He too has curtailed the number of silk saris from five to three, thereby saving about Rs.20,000. With the marriage hall rent of Rs.40,000 being an inevitable expenditure, he has turned to a different economic measure with regard to catering. While he engages labourers for the preparation and supply of meals and other dishes, he has determined to purchase and supply the provision himself. While the provision are to be purchased for Rs.1.25 lakh, the labour charges will be Rs.30,000. “This endeavour will help me in saving a fairly reasonable amount, as compared to the expenditure through the contract which would be around Rs.2 lakh.”

The soaring price of gold has forced Mr. Raman to reduce the quantum of jewellery from his planned 25 sovereigns to 20 sovereigns. He had also to give up the idea of presenting diamond ear rings. “Despite all these economic measures, the total expenditure is expected to work out to Rs.7 lakh”, he says.

S. Ramanarasu, Dharmathikari of Sringeri Sankara Mutt, which runs a mandapam at Amma Mandapam Road in Srirangam, says that the Mutt has not increased the rent. He had to shell out Rs.4,000 every half-year towards ‘trade and practices.’ He apprehends that any hike in property tax would result in an additional expenditure.

Many marriage-hall managers point out that wastage of food and sweets was an eye-sore on several occasions. Pointing out that catering accounted for a huge expenditure for a marriage, they said the expenditure could be reduced drastically, if buffet system was introduced.

Photography and videography was another major expenditure, which no one was willing to do away with despite the spiralling prices. Photography charges have not been increased for many years due to various reasons including competition. But budget conscious people have reduced the amount incurred for the photography by cutting down the photo film rolls. “Usually we will go for six to ten rolls for a marriage, but now they want us to bring it down to three to five rolls”, says S. Anand of Comics Laminates and Photography at Super Bazaar in the city.

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