Yogi Govt’s Diktat: No Weddings in Prayagraj During Kumbh

Residents of Prayagraj – formerly known as Allahabad – will apparently have to seek permission from the Yogi Adityanath-led state government to get married between January and March, 2019. The government has reportedly banned all marriage functions in the district during this period due to ‘Kumbh Snaan’ (Kumbh bath). 

Following the order, the district administration of Prayagraj has instructed all the marriage hall owners, hoteliers and guest house owners to cancel all bookings scheduled during the said time. The administration also sent copies of the order to them.

As per the order issued, the weddings will not be allowed a day before and after the ‘Kumbh snaan’ which will be held between January and March 2019.

Every year, between January and March, lakhs of devotees participate in the annual ritual known as Kumbh Snaan or Kumbh Mela. This year, the decision to bar weddings has been reportedly taken for the convenience of the devotees who will be coming for congregations. Six major ‘snaan’ (baths) will take place during the holy pilgrimage between January and March.

Sources told Newsclick that the decision was taken for people’s convenience, but people from Prayagraj are not really pleased with the 'diktat' of the Yogi government. Marriage hall and hotel owners have expressed their concern over the government order citing huge business loss. Many people had already made advance payments for booking the marriage halls, caterers, and hotels for guests. People in the wedding business are equally perplexed as they are dependent on the marriage season for their earnings.

Speaking with Newsclick, Ram Lakhan Yadav, former chairman of Nagar Panchayat of Jhunsi said, "From January till March 4, the government has directed to cancel all the wedding ceremonies due to Kumbh snan, which is not appropriate. Earlier, during Akhilesh Yadav's regime, devotees used to come for the same, but our government never issued any diktat. Yogi government did not think so many people who have already booked hotels, or have made advance payments to the guest houses, caterers, etc. Some resort owners told me that if they do not follow the government's order, they might face legal action, their license could get cancelled.”   

Zubair Ahmad, manager of Seasons Resort, based out of Jhunsi said, "More than seven bookings had to be cancelled due to this order. People are complaining that we have done something wrong, but we told everyone that it's district administration’s order. People are really feeling helpless, as they do not have any option. We have received the copy of the order with the instruction to cancel all the bookings. There will be responsible for a huge loss during the wedding season. 

Earlier, the CM had ordered closure of all the tanneries from December 15, 2018 to March 15, 2019 in Kanpur in order to keep river Ganga clean during the Kumbh Mela.

The decision was taken by Adityanath in May, and the order to shut the tanneries was passed by the Department of Environment's Chief Secretary Renuka Kumar on June 12. According to industry estimates, the three-month closure of all tanneries will incur loss of almost Rs 15,000 crore, and over 10 lakh people – employed with the leather industry directly and indirectly – will be without a job.