U’khand village puts cap on wedding expenses

TO curb the rising expenses and the culture of showiness at social ceremonies, the residents of Kandhar village in Uttarakhand's tribal region of Jaunsar-Bawar have passed a social bylaw limiting the gold jewellery married women can wear at weddings and family functions.

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

The unanimous decision, made at a community meeting, aims to ease the financial burden on poor families, who often struggle to keep up with lavish wedding traditions and heavy jewellery displays.

Married women can now wear only three pieces of gold jewellery, namely a nose stud ('phuuli'), earrings ('bundey'), and a wedding necklace ('mangalsutra'). All other heavy or additional ornaments have been prohibited.