JOIN USGuest curbs create new woes
With Covid-19 clusters increasing in Karnataka, the government has announced a fresh cap on the number of people attending events (see box).
“Many companies have shut shop during the pandemic,” says Sowmya Raghavan, partner with 3Productions, Banaswadi, which mostly handles weddings and social events. The cap affects caterers and furniture suppliers who need numbers to make their businesses viable, she says.
Roseline David, founder of Wedding Tales, Bellandur, has been handling guest lists of about 200, and so the restriction on numbers isn’t affecting her. But she finds hosts grappling with new problems.
The crowds are smaller because RT-PCR certificates are mandated from those coming in from states like Kerala.
“A wedding, which was to have many visitors from Kerala, has a reduced guest list as people don’t want to be exposed by going in for tests,” she says.
The challenge is for the client, who has to choose from among guests when the government suddenly mandates a smaller number.
“When personalised gifts are booked and the numbers are slashed, planning goes for a toss,” she explains.
‘People wary’
Sushma GS of Evolves event management, says business is not as bad as during early 2020, but people are still wary.
Co-founder of the company with Sharath Srivatsa, she says the restrictions have led overall to economising.
“In decorations, people would ask for real flowers but now they ask for artificial flowers as they are pocket-friendly, and can be reused. Instead of elaborate flower arrangements, decorations with balloons are preferred at birthdays, naming ceremonies and baby showers,” she says.
Most events are held during the day, so that grand lighting does not attract unwanted guests, she says.
CRS Weddings and Events, VV Puram, has been doing “enough business” since February.
“Recently, a ‘grihapravesham’ which was to have 200 guests got just 50. Since they informed me well in advance, I did not incur losses,” says Sandeep Sukumar, owner.
In the past, Sandeep used to place three seats at every table, but now it is just two. “We try our best to follow social distancing norms,” he says.
‘Fear is gone’
A representative of a leading event planning company says people aren’t following government restrictions. “They come saying they have 350 guests, but the hall is sometimes flooded with 1,000. Initially, people came in smaller numbers and wore masks, but all that is gone now,” he says.
With the arrival of the vaccine, people are no longer afraid, he says.
What rules say
According to the central government’s guidelines, it is mandatory to follow the standard of 3.25 sq metres per person.
Marriages: Up to 500 people (open areas) and 200 (in halls).
Birthdays and other ceremonies: Up to 100 people (open areas) and 50 (in halls).
Religious rituals: Up to 500 people (in open areas).
New problems
- Guests are not coming if Covid-negative certificate is mandatory.
- If invitations are out, hosts don’t know which guests to tell not to come.
- At weddings, presents bought in anticipation of guests are going unused.
- Caterers and furniture suppliers are not getting viable numbers.