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Bhubaneswar: The nation-wide lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic has shattered thousands of marriage plans.
Not only couples, their families are also a worried lot as uncertainty looms. The family of Somesh Mishra of Jeypore in Koraput were looking forward for his marriage with Shivani which was scheduled to be held on May 5. However, both Somesh and Shivani are now stranded in Mumbai and Bengaluru, respectively and there seems to be no way they can return to Odisha due to the lockdown. Earlier, Somesh and Shivani’s ring ceremony was held in a grand manner and their families had planned a lavish wedding in presence of friends and relatives.
“We do not want to put others lives at risk due to our own interests. Though heartbroken, we are hopeful to solemnise the marriage on some other date,” said Bhaskar Mishra, Somesh’s father.
The lockdown has derailed the plans of Sarat Sahu of Tulasipur area in Cuttack who had scheduled his son Sachin’s marriage on May 1. Preparations were almost complete and even invitation cards were distributed.
“All preparations were complete, but we had to postpone the wedding as the lockdown was extended,” said Sachin.
Not only common people, but the coronavirus lockdown has adversely affected the marriage plans of ‘corona warriors’ who have been discharging their duties during the pandemic. Sub-Inspector Bibhuti Bhusan Sethi posted at Berhampur Sadar Police station and Sasmita of Tihidi Police Station in Bhadrak had planned to tie the nuptial knot on the auspicious Akshay Tritiya (April 26). But they decided to postpone their marriage putting duty first and to comply with social distancing norms.
“Our family wanted to conduct the marriage as it was an auspicious date, but both us decided to postpone it as it is our duty to work for the people in this crisis,” said Bibhuti.
Coronavirus has cast its shadow over plans of thousands of couples and no respite seems to be coming their way as there are no auspicious dates for marriages between July 15 and November 25 this year as per the Odia almanac.
“People are coming to us to check the next available dates for marriage. But till November 25, no auspicious event or marriages can be organised as per the almanac,” said Astrologer, Pandit Dibakar Mishra.
