Patna: The demonetisation drive by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seen an “ideal” marriage take place in Bihar on Thursday with the entire function costing Rs1,100 (Dh60).
No dowry was paid to the groom’s side, while guests were only too happy to be treated to just a cup of tea and few laddus (sweets) — and no sumptuous dish.
The wedding took place at Chitauria-Garighat which falls under Mansahi block in Katihar, an eastern Bihar district located some 300km from Patna.
Reports said the marriage of Sarswati Kumari, daughter of Yogendra Sahni, to local youth Raj Kumar, had been fixed sometime back.
Suddenly, the currency ban appeared throwing cold water on the marriage plans. The tie-up looked really in trouble.
The bride’s side found it hard to pay money to decorators, cooks, tent men and others, with the cash crunch proving to be the major hindrance.
It was then that the groom’s side came forward and asked the bride’s family not to bother about paying dowry, or according expensive treatments to the guests.
Finally when the wedding procession reached the bride’s home on the scheduled date, that is on Thursday evening, guests were treated to cups of tea and dessert.
But, the best was yet to come: the marriage was solemnised with the symbolic Hindu fire, and the guests as the lone witnesses.
No priest was called in to chant the Vedic mantras and solemnise the marriage as the entire ritual completed in less than two hours.
“We are very much pleased [with such a marriage function]. We never craved for dowry or royal treatment from the bride’s side. We are happy with the bride,” Munshi Sahni, father of the groom, said.
