To ease financial burden, Shillai village simplifies marriages

Drabil gram panchayat in Shillai subdivision of Sirmaur district has decided to simplify marriage celebrations to reduce the economic burden on families. Drabil panchayat has taken a decision that only one day of feasting will be permitted during marriages, a significant departure from the traditional four-day celebrations.

Marriage celebrations in Drabil usually took over four days with elaborate feasts and ceremonies leading to a heavy financial burden on families. This extended celebration included various customs — welcoming maternal uncles on the first day, the groom’s procession on the second, a large feast on the third and an additional tradition known as ‘Pultoaz’ on the fourth. While wealthier families could afford the cost associated with this practice, lower-income families were often left struggling to observe the tradition, sometimes falling into a debt trap or even forced to sell property to cover marriage expenses.

At a gathering at the Mahasu Devta temple in the panchayat, villagers unanimously agreed to the change. Panchayat members, including pradhan Madan Sharma, former pradhan Basti Ram Sharma and other respected community members, took a solemn oath to enforce the new rule. Everyone pledged to honour the vow and uphold simple marriages, invoking the blessings of the local deity as a show of commitment to the decision.

The new guidelines state that only one meal will be organised on the day the bride arrives at her new home and the same rule will apply to the bride’’s family. By reducing the duration of wedding celebrations, this decision is expected to provide relief from the financial pressures that have long affected the village’’s economically weaker families, who were often forced to take on loans or avail debts to meet societal expectations.

To ensure adherence to the new rule, the panchayat has set forth strict consequences for families who disregard this mandate. Those who violate the decision will face a ‘Chheeng’, a local term for a community boycott. Additionally, violators will be required to host an extra feast for the entire village as a form of economic penalty, further discouraging non-compliance.

“This decision is meant to promote social equity and reduce unnecessary financial strain on families,” said Madan Sharma, gram panchayat pradhan. “While wealthy families may not feel the impact of these expenses, the four-day wedding celebrations have, for years, created financial hardship for those who cannot afford these.”

Residents and panchayat leaders believe this move will set a precedent that neighbouring villages and communities may consider adopting. By shifting away from overly lavish celebrations, Drabil village hopes to foster a culture of simplicity, reducing the debt cycle often resulting from costly wedding rituals.