"If COVID Doesn't, This Will Kill Us": New Curbs Crash Wedding Industry's Hopes In Peak Season
The wedding industry is staring at crippling financial losses after the COVID restrictions came into effect last Tuesday, throwing many weddings off schedule.
What are the new rules?
As per Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) guidelines, only 20 persons are allowed at weddings which are to be organised at court or at home only. Additionally, banquet halls and other wedding venues have been closed under the first level of restrictions of the Covid graded response action plan (GRAP).
How it has affected the industry so far?
The rule has rushed many to cancel their bookings with the wedding and banquets halls across the capital. This has led to huge losses for the wedding industry including wedding planners, caterers, makeup artists, decorators, music organisers and especially, venue owners.
The industry that been suffering losses for two consecutive years due to the pandemic is now leery of a recovery this season, especially with the fresh curbs and a total ban.
What do industry insiders say?
Banquet hall owners
"This situation was killing us already. No weddings mean no income. Our business is at an all-time low. We really need substantial help in picking ourselves up again and run," says Gagan, Owner of Ritz Banquets in Delhi.??
The banquet hall situated in Delhi's Kirti Nagar would earlier be brimming with events. Famous for weddings, post-pandemic, it has only been trying to revive itself.?"We can manage social distancing norms in banquet halls. We had advance bookings, now people are calling for cancellations. It will cost us badly," he added.
Gagan said: "The money we take from people, we further give to people handling decor, flower arrangements, Music DJ, catering. When people cancel, we have to give them a refund but we have already spent the money on these services for them."
IndiaTimes spoke to another wedding venue owner who said the government must consider the woes of those trying to operate their businesses in the wedding industry.?
"If Covid doesn't kill us, this will. When restaurants and bars are allowed to open at 50% seating capacity, why are banquets halls completely shut? We request the government to open banquet halls partially, with seating arrangements complying with social distancing norms. The government should think of us," said Aman, owner of Crown Banquet Halls, Kapashera.
Aman added: "It is a complete loss for us. People have started postponing weddings and many have cancelled bookings fearing a lockdown. Many have even started opting for destination weddings at NCR."
"This is peak wedding season and at least 30-40 wedding-related functions, anniversaries, birthdays happen here. It will not only hit us but will also affect staff and workers," he said.?
Music band owners
"We will die if these restrictions go on like this. We have already been facing a lot of problems for the last two years due to lockdown. Now, the same situation is back," said Raju Bandwala in Kirti Nagar. He said, "There are many people who are associated with me, I need to think of their survival also."
"The government should take smart decision instead of a blanket ban. We also have families, we have to worry about their survival as well," a music band owner said who chose to be anonymous.
Caterer
Sanjay Khullar of Delhi Catering Association said that the government could instead take strict action against violators and make the norms more stringent without completely shutting down the businesses.
"We accept that precaution is crucial to prevent the spread of Covid. But when the industry is already taking so many safety measures and precautions, terminating their operations will lead to disaster," said Khullar.
For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
