CHANDIGARH: Spanish Flamenco dancers, fresh orchids from Thailand, ice sculptures, wedding stages resembling grand film sets, not to forget singers from Bollywood — the big fat Punjabi wedding is getting bigger and fatter by the day, which has become a cause of social concern in the state. A campaign is gradually building up as people are coming forward and seeking government intervention to stop wasteful expenditure on weddings.
Punjab Caucus for Public Cause, an organisation that is spearheading the campaign to curb the unhealthy practice of big fat weddings, has sought a law against the practice. Its chairman and social activist Tejinder Kaur Chhina said they are initiating a signature campaign asking all the 117 MLAs, including Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Governor Vijayendrapal Singh Badnore, to demand a legislation on the matter.
The Punjabi Cultural Council has urged the government to amend the existing dowry and marriage laws to keep a record of expenses incurred on the weddings. The state will also get more revenue from taxes if there is a legal provision to maintain transparency during solemnizing of nuptials, it argues. PCC chairman Harjeet Singh Grewal has written a letter in this regard to the CM.
Grewal has demanded that it must be made compulsory to furnish records of wedding expenses at the time of marriage registration. The council has contended that people will avoid ostentatious weddings if they have to furnish records of expenses to the authorities. It has also suggested that a provision be incorporated in the dowry prohibition Act to credit money intended to be spent on the marriage in the bank account of the bride to safeguard her future.