MillenniumPost
Delhi

Wedding woes: How to look out for fake notes in shagun?

The ban on currency notes has brought a new tension for would-be brides and grooms and their families who are running against time for planning the final nitty-gritties of marriage in the upcoming wedding season. How? Think of a situation where a relative gives you an envelope filled with gift money. What would you do?

According to astrologists, the winter season of wedding will start from November 16 and most of the marriages are scheduled on November 24, which is being considered the most auspicious day by the astrologists. “As old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 are banned now, we are worried on how to check the money in the shagun envelopes. It will not be proper to examine the donor right while receiving it,” said Shruti, a would-be bride who is scheduled to tie the knot on November 24.

As per Hindu rituals, shagun (gift money) is given to the bride and bridegroom by relatives. However, majority of shagun is given on stage during the jaimala ceremony (garlanding ceremony) but besides that, shagun is given on several occasions during the solemnisation of marriage.

Till December, there are around 13 auspicious days of marriage this year.

“We have withdrawn huge cash to give in the tilak ceremony and also to expend on various occasions. The money is now of no use,” said Ram Avtar Kaushik, father of a girl. The families of bridegrooms are also a bit worried as they are unable to find a way to solve the problem they will face with dowry. “We don’t demand dowry but as per tradition, cash is given by the bride’s family for expenditure in marriage party, purchasing jewellery, sarees and other items for girls,” said a father of would-be bride groom.

The jewellers’ shops were closed on Wednesday in the city. “People are coming to us with huge cash but we have no option but to ask them to purchase with debit and credit cards only,” said the in-charge of PC Jewellers at Vikas Marg. Several famous jewellers in the city like Chhawala Jewelers, Manohar Lal Jewellers and local jewellers were also closed or reported nil sales. “The sales of gold and other jewellery was almost nil in the city both at wholesale and retail levels. This is happening to almost all the trades throughout the country,” said Surendra Khandelwal, treasurer of Delhi Bullion and Jewelers Welfare Association.
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