GUNTUR: With no muhurats to perform marriages in the next two months, a number of marriages are slotted for November 23, 24 and 25, 2017. According to the priests, there are no muhurats till Feb. 19, next year in the Telugu year, Hevalambi. No marriages were performed till November 9, this year, due to Guru Moodhami. Sukra Moodhami starts on Nov. 28 and it would continue till February 19, next year. Moodhami is treated inauspicious and hence marriages and other significant activities are not performed during these days.

The rush for marriages on these three days has increased the demand for priests, music bands, marriage/function halls, hotels, lodges, cars, catering and flowers. According to reports, nearly 1 lakh marriages have been planned on these three days in the 13 districts in AP. Nearly 300 marriage/function halls in Guntur and Vijayawada had been booked and about 3,000 high/middle/lower class rooms in hotels/lodges in both the cities are also engaged. This is forcing some parents to perform their children's marriages in the open space before their houses.



Some marriage/function halls have been booked for 2-4 marriage functions on a single day giving good income to the owners. Senior priest P. Someswara Sarma said that marriage is a milestone in one's life and so parents always want an auspicious muhurat for that to be assured that the couple lead a happy life. Every priest is performing 10-12 marriages in these three days, he added.

Event organisers said senior cooks are demanding Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per marriage and suppliers are demanding Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per marriage. Travel agency owner P. Ramu said there is good demand for luxury cars and utility vehicles the three days. A father, G. Venkateswarlu, said he wanted to perform his son's marriage in a grand manner but as the bride's parents did not finalise the dates, they could not book a function hall. "Now, I have to perform the marriage at my house as no function halls are available on these days," he said.