February is season of marriages' in Andhra Pradesh

Guntur: February turns out to be a month of marriages as several auspicious muhurthams are available from 10th to 29th in the month and a large number of marriages are being  performed on these dates.

Auspicious muhurthams are available on February 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. People from all walks of life including political leaders are choosing February to perform marriages of their sons and daughters.

Ambati Rambabu performed his daughter’s  marriage on February 11 and Pedakurapadu MLA of TD, Kommalapati Sridhar’s daughter is getting married on February 12. According to reports nearly one lakh marriages would be performed this month in AP.

Kalyanamandapams, function halls and other facilities are on huge demand in Guntur due to marriage rush.  According to priests and pandits, there are no muhurthams from April 30 to July 12 due to Sukra Moudhyam and from July 5 to August 2 due to Ashada Masam hence people are performing marriages in the coming two months, especially in February.

As many as 100 function halls and nearly 60 hotels in Guntur are fully booked by marriage parties.

A senior priest, C.R. Gopala Sastry said Moudhyam is treated as inauspicious so there would be no marriages during Sukra Moudhyam and Guru Moudhyam. He added that this year Sukra Moudhyam lasts for three months from April end to July. He added that there are 15-20 auspicious days in February, April, August, October, November and December this year.  

A catering organiser, N. Venkata Krishna said the demand for cooks and suppliers is very high and they are paying Rs 800 to Rs 1000 to a cook per marriage against the normal of Rs 500. Similarly a supplier is being paid Rs 500 against the usual Rs 200.

Similarly, the demand for luxury cars, buses and utility vehicles, flowers and garlands has hugely increased and prices have been doubled.