Image Source: inditvnews.com
INTRODUCTION
The second wave of the corona is proving more fatal than the first wave. New cases and causalities are increasing. The administration is failing to provide medical services to all the patients of the corona. There is a shortage of oxygen or its transportation to the needed places but there is a shortage that is causing causalities. The variants of corona which are responsible for the second wave are more contagious to the earlier one and more fatal. Here, comes the duty of both, people and the administration, to fulfill their roles to end this pandemic in the country. Marriage has always been the event which is celebrated with the relatives, friends and every other people here and around to spread the happiness. But, in the pandemic, the only corona will spread in the marriages. Governments of different states have restrictions on the number of people in the wedding ceremony to curb the spread of corona. Maharashtra is one of those states which have put restrictions on the wedding ceremony.
MARRIAGE AND CORONA
Marriage, Festivals, Elections, or any other crowding is a medium of the corona to spread across the country. The government has done one big blunder by not stopping or at least curbing the other unnecessary crowding in the elections. Elections are not the sole reason but one of the main contributors. Marriage is seen as the most pious event. But when that pious event becomes the spreader of death remains no more pious. What encourages the people to do the marriage ceremonies even in the pandemic time? Is this the bravery work or life will stop? One of the foremost reasons is pre-scheduled marriages. The marriages planned during the weak phase of this pandemic, now, falls in the severest time period. The government has to put restrictions on the number of people, time period of the wedding ceremony. One question which arises now is why the government is not stopping the marriage ceremonies? Its answers may lie in the consequential questions, which will be asked from the government, about the restrictions on elections, alcohol shops.
MAHARASHTRA RESTRICTIONS
Uddhav Thackery government announced the mini lockdown and since then the state is in lockdown. The aim of the government is clear to curb the spread of the corona and save as much life as possible. One of these restrictions is about the wedding ceremony. Only 25 people are allowed in the 2-hour single event marriage ceremony. This restriction has converted this social event into two family events. The event in itself consists of many events restricted to only one event. Marathi weddings involve many pre-wedding ceremonies which start about a month before the marriage. People on Twitter reacted with memes when the restrictions were imposed. The violation of the restrictions will attract a fine of Rs 50,000.
RESTRICTION: FOLLOWED OR VIOLATED
What generally is implemented by the law or orders of the government is not followed instantly. The news about the flouting of the restrictions was being reported along with weddings conducted with guidelines. There are several reasons to go with the scheduled ceremonies and that also includes the reasons to flout the guidelines. Social Pressure is one of the big reasons which force people to go with scheduled ceremonies and also to break the guidelines. If we see the news about the flouting of guidelines during wedding guideline related to limit of guest and time then we will come across the maximum violations being done by the people those who the white elephants in their marriages. The other reason if we see is poverty. Farmers, especially in the regions of Marathwada and Vidarbha, are going with the marriages instead of postponing and even marriages are being planned in the COVID restrictions. The simple reason is less expenditure. Farmers also have that social pressure to throw lavish marriages and these restrictions save them. This whole matter depends on the social and financial status of the families. The poor people like small farmers are going for the marriages, the families which have enough money but not any social pressure to conduct marriages in this time are postponing the wedding ceremonies and the people who have money but overwhelmed by the fictitious pressure, a downgrade of social status if marriage not conducted, do not care about restrictions and some also get caught the administration. There are cases where the rich family conducts the marriage by following all precautions and donate the rest of the money which was to be spent in the marriages.
CONCLUSION
The whole point rests on stopping the COVID and if anyone, whoever he is, flout the rule should be punished. The recent judgment of the Bombay HC which calls the BMC that when it can put higher penalties then why it is not imposing on the defaulters should be properly analyzed by the authorities and reconsider the penalty amount. Rs 50,000 is not much for the families who can throw lavish marriages. It is just another meager expense for them.