Perform marriages in April or wait till August

Nellore: Marriages are made in heaven but celebrated on earth. This year, as per the almanac related to Telugu New Year - Durmukhi and other auspicious days predicted by astrologers, there will be no chance for marriages till August second week. Marriages will be performed up to April 29 and subsequently people have to wait for three months for the next auspicious occasion.

• Astrologers give suggestions based on the almanac related to Telugu New Year Durmukhi
• Three months, May, June & July, this year considered inauspicious for marriages

This is the problem not only in Andhra Pradesh, but many States where Hindus follow different almanacs. Three hundred astrologers from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan organised a meeting in February last year and announced restrictions on marriages for Hindu couples between July 2015 and August 2016 as the planet Jupiter was not favourably aligned during the period.

Panchang followed even in other countries where they perform Hindu marriages, also restricted marriages from April 29, which is considered the last auspicious day and they start again on November 11.

Telugu people are somewhat lucky enough that marriages have been allowed up to this month end and they have been restricted only up to August due to Shukra Moudhyami, Karthari and Ashadham during May, June and July subsequently.

Meanwhile, population residing on the banks of Krishna river also face restrictions from August 12 to 23 since auspicious events like marriages are banned during Krishna Pushkaralu. So, these people have to wait again up to August 23 and have to fix dates for marriage after completion of the Pushkaralu.

In April, the auspicious days for marriages are 21, 24 and 29. So, hectic activity already started for the marriages and there is huge demand for wedding halls, Purohits and caterers.

There are no auspicious days for marriages till August, after the auspicious dates in April. As the power of Guru and Shukra planets is weak during May and June, the marriages are not performed. Ashadham in July is also not suitable since it is locally called Shunya Masa.

“Sravanam from August is appropriate for marriages,” said D Ramanaiah, a specialist in reading almanac, and he also suggests Muhurtham for marriages.

Ramanaiah added that there would be another problem with Guru Moudhyami from September to October this year in which marriages are not generally performed. After August, people have to wait for Shubh Muhurath in November.

Because of the restricted time for marriages, many wedding halls and hotels are booked for engagements during this month and the marriages are planned for August or November.

“We don’t have time to perform marriage this month so we are conducting engagement and planning for marriage in August. In August, there are very few favorable days for performing marriages based on the birth stars of the couples,” said K Ramakrishna, father of a bride, from Balajinagar in city.