Srinagar, Jun 4: The incessant rains over past couple of months have hit the booming wedding industry in Kashmir.
 According to market observers, various segments in the wedding industry have suffered losses worth tens of lakhs of rupees during past two months.
  “We have suffered huge losses worth lakhs of rupees due to rains, as scores of bookings were cancelled over past two months,” said Gowhar Amin, proprietor, Modern Camping Agency, Fateh Kadal
 He said the company incurred a huge loss of Rs 3 to 4 lakh only within two days due to incessant rains on Thursday and Friday last week.
 “Especially on those two days, almost all the marriage functions were cancelled. And a few functions that were held, people preferred to do it indoors or use neighbours’ houses to avoid inconveniences created by rain,” he said.
  “Earlier also in May at a time we suffered a loss of Rs 1.5 lakh due to May 17-18 rains,” he added. 
 Market observers said hundreds of people in the Valley were involved in the service of camping agencies, letting out on rent copper utensils, crockery items, bedding items, etc. needed on the marriage.
 On an average, they said, the camping agencies earned Rs 20,000 to one lakh per wedding, depending upon the number of items to be utilized and duration of the function.
 “And when it rains, most of the people prefer to cancel the function and rather perform marriage with austerity, which leaves little no work for us,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, another agent.
 He said those who arrange decorations for the marriage houses also felt the pinch.
 Many agents said even as the rains had stopped for past some days, they were still idle, as water at many a place had logged in lawns and on roads. “In that case also, many people cancelled invitations,” said Mushtaq.
 Not just camping agencies, chefs, who serve on marriage ceremonies, have also suffered badly due to non-stop rains. “We have suffered huge losses worth lakhs of rupees, as tens of catering orders were cancelled since April,” said Ghulam Muhammad Waza, a chef at Khanyar
  “These days we have been getting some work after a gap of a week or so, otherwise this is the season when we should be busy everyday,” he said.
 Many chefs said as holy Ramadan was approaching towards mid-summer, most of the people preferred to perform marriage during May and June. “So this is the main season for us, which has been badly hit by rains,” they said.
 They said these days most of the people curtailed the mutton quantity to a large extent, and ordered only a few dishes from them.
 “Then many people served their guests with Kehwa (traditional tea),” they said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST