BY KHADIJAH QASIM KAMILI
The extravagant functions in huge decorated marquees and halls, void-of-emotion stranger-esque presence of guests, elements of grandeur in actions that are simply meant for public show-off, booking the best designer wear worth laks, and the classic idea behind one-upping someone by celebrating events, especially weddings, “better than they did” has only worsened the likeliness of families taking the traditional route.
Weddings are supposed to be a down-to-earth celebration of the union of two souls pre-destined to be together. This attachment of grandeur has weakened the purity and sanctity of this particularly important relationship.
However, COVID-19 has brought things under the microscope and has allowed us to analyse these antics that are downright unnecessary. Wedding season has returned but not in its previous avatar.
The forcible cut down of huge gatherings to avoid contact spread of the virus has naturally reduced the occurrence of a grand wedding at the roots level. Consequently, huge buffets, designer-wear, booked cinematographers, and décor have also been brought down to quite a few notches which has lessened the cost price of weddings.
Since multiple, professionally-established service providers and event planners are running short of high class customers unlike norm, it is quite clear that local businesses are given more opportunity in this pandemic season, which also eventually goes light on the wallet. Families, due to the impending Corona Virus, have decided to go ahead with small-scale, intimate functions with minimal guests.
This minimalism has brought into light how humans do have a natural tendency to save unnecessary expenditure yet the culture of over-spending has compelled them to take loans and empty out their life savings for the purpose of a couple of days of societal approval.
The question, “loug kya kahenge?” has consumed the very purpose of living. Afraid of being judged by those around them, many were constantly aware of what they are displaying because the dreaded question loomed over their heads. People now simply give their daughters away in holy matrimony in a small group consisting of family members and save everyone the hassle of worrying about other formalities.
Countries worldwide have implied the same in their COVID-affected lives and are even considering the move to minimalism for permanence. Post-COVID scenarios can easily adapt this change because it really isn’t something too drastic or difficult to bring about.
It simply dials down the element of show-off and extravagance, which would be adopted quite heartily by the middle class as it makes weddings quite easy to execute. As social-distancing norms become a routine practice, maybe families will finally learn to focus on the quality and not the quantity; the love and not the craze. We do pray for the departure of this deadly virus, but silently also hope that these practices stick around. Maybe “micro-weddings”, also creatively labeled “minimonies”, are a thing of the future!
