Weddings take a creative path in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Wedding rituals in the city are taking a creative path as many are opting for innovative themes right from 'pasupu danchadam', a pre-wedding practice followed in Telugu households, to crafting a customised menu sans usage of plastic and offering environment-friendly return gifts to the visitors, the list seems to be endless.

At a time when wedding ceremonies turn out to be a status symbol and parents involve in lavish 'dos', according priority to rich finery, elaborate menu, exclusive jewellery and loads of gifts, a lot of wastage also forms a part of the process in terms of food and exploitation of resources. Keeping this in view, many are coming up with new concepts to make the ceremony a memorable one and deliver a message.

The ritual of 'Pasupu danchadam' at Varalakshmi Pyla's residence at CBM Compound takes an artistic route. As a part of her daughter's pre-wedding ritual, she along with her friends designed dozens of dolls, depicting rituals followed in Telugu families such as 'addu-tera' (screen), 'saari' set (gifts presented to the bride), 'vuregimpu' and preparations in the kitchen, among several others.

"The idea is to revive our tradition and make the ceremony as creative as possible. Besides, I would like to encourage parents to pay attention to such minute details during their children's weddings," says Varalakshmi, who works as a teacher at GVMC Primary School, Maddilapalem.

Some of the crafts brought out by her include artworks made of coconut fibre, while a few are designed using waste material.

No plastic wedding

Contributing to the 'no-plastic' campaign, the wedding of B. Srinivas and Ambika at Parawada was held sans any trace of plastic. From usage of banana leaf to serve food to offering welcome drinks and water in steel glasses and dais decoration, special care was taken to ensure the rituals were followed in an eco-friendly manner.

"This way, we wanted to make the celebrations an unforgettable affair. Eventually, it also inspired some of our friends to follow suit," the couple mentioned.

'Green' return gift

In another wedding held at Rushikonda, visitors returned home with a 'green' gift. Those who attended the wedding were given a bag of basil plant. "Tulsi plant is considered to be sacred and auspicious in several households.

When the bride's parents wanted us to come up with 'green' return gifts, we suggested them the basil plants which worked out well. Visitors were quite happy to bring home a tulsi plant after attending the wedding," explain the event managers.