Coronavirus scare: Couples are giving up on wedding, honeymoon plans for now

Many gatherings, including wedding ceremonies, are being called off across the country because of Coronavirus. Those who are managing such events and are dependent on this are in a fix

Manish Mishra
Associate Editor| Updated: Last updated on March 19th, 2020,

The rise of an emergency situation due to coronavirus has directly affected millions of people. One lakh people are suffering from the disease and around 5,000 people have already perished due to it. But beyond these counts, there are millions of people whose lives and livelihood are indirectly hit by the disease. In the third part of Gaon Connection series “FiasCorona”, read about its impact upon the wedding-related businesses.

“My business has suffered losses worth up to 25 per cent. During good seasons, I used to spend liberally, but now I have to think twice before buying even basic things,” said Rahul Kumar, who works as a flower and venue decorator for marriages in Jaipur.

Rahul informed us that he has been suffering a shortage of funds these days. The sudden surge in cancellation of marriages and gatherings due to coronavirus has been affecting his business.

Fearing Coronavirus, many gatherings, including wedding ceremonies, are being called off across the country. This is bringing economic losses to many dependent on such events for their livelihood. People from other countries, who had invested in booking wedding events and seminars are also cancelling their bookings. This is leading to losses worth crores of rupees and those dependent on these events are getting affected. 

Spreading rapidly to about 40 countries, Coronavirus, so far, has claimed more than 4,000 lives and has affected more than one lakh people across the globe. But beyond these counts, there are millions of people whose lives and livelihood are indirectly hit by the disease. Every year, hundreds of foreign tourists come to India to add a unique twist to their wedding experiences. Hotels in Jaipur and Udaipur are their top picks for such experiences.

“About 80 per cent of bookings for weddings by foreign investors have been cancelled. They have a unique setup for theme-based weddings. For which, we have to do a booking before at least three days of the event. This requires a setup for a different set of lights, catering and tent arrangements. All marriage events for the season have been cancelled, right now the situation remains grim for everyone,” said Gajendra Beniwal, president of Jaipur Hotel Association over the phone.

Weddings in India have a major contribution to the country’s economy

Wedding ceremonies in India provide employment to every trade; from hotels, tents to flower sellers. The wedding preparation involves each section of society and is also a major source of income for them. 

According to the 2017 report of KPMG, a company providing research solutions around the world, the turnover of the weddings industry in India is about $50 billion (Rs 368,737.5 crore).

Niyati Jain, who works with Desert Pearl Entertainment, a company which organises weddings in Rajasthan and other big cities, informed us that she observed an increase in the wedding bookings when Coronavirus was spreading in other countries. But as soon as Coronavirus cases began to emerge in India, booking cancellations began here too.

“Bookings for weddings till November and December have been cancelled. We have been facing losses from the past 15 days,” she added.

Weddings in India have a major contribution to the country’s economy. According to a media report, the world’s economic growth rate will be 0.5 per cent lower in the first quarter of 2020.

Anil Kumar Azad, chairman of the All India Tent Dealers Welfare Organization, New Delhi, informed us that there are hardly any wedding ceremonies during March and April. The business during these months remains at a loss. He added: “Marriages for upcoming months have not been booked so far. Anyway, foreigners do not prefer wedding ceremonies in lawns. They prefer big hotels.”

Parul, who works for a flower-trading company in Jaipur, informed us that the artificial flowers which are used to make backdrops for marriage have become costlier as the supply has been stopped.

“Even if we get the flowers, the customers are not ready to accept these flowers. They believe that since the flowers are being supplied from other places, there are chances that they may contain Coronavirus in them,” she added.

“Besides the wedding, people have also stopped booking honeymoon packages. They are avoiding any travel. They just want to stay back home,” explained Parul. 

Besides weddings and gatherings, several events including the Olympic Games, which were to be held in Tokyo, Japan, from July 24-2020 to August 9, 2020, have been cancelled or postponed. Japanese Sports Minister Seiko Hashimoto has informed the Japanese Parliament that the Olympic Games may be shifted to the end of the year.

The launch of I Phone-12 has been postponed after the workers did not return to work in Chinese factories. Similarly, the Indian Navy programme at Visakhapatnam—Milan-2020, has also been postponed,  which was to be attended by naval officers and soldiers from 30 countries across the world.

Read Part 1, Part 2