BMC's silent zones have claimed one of the most spirited Indian ceremonies the baarat procession
BMC's silent zones have claimed one of the most spirited Indian ceremonies the baarat procession
The traditional band bajaas and the noisy baaraatis from the big fat Indian weddings have been silenced by the BMC. The civic body has identified 1,113 locations across the city as silence zones in February covering schools, colleges, religious places and hospitals. Halls and grounds of these institutions often double up as wedding venues and since they fall under the silence zones, loudspeakers and firecrackers are a strict no-no.
And wedding organisers are miffed.u00a0
Said Girish Thappar, owner of A 2 Z, a 25-year-old wedding organising company, "The silent zones are creating trouble. Clients often get annoyed, as they are not permitted to play the band. Even bursting firecrackers is a problem."u00a0u00a0u00a0
"Be it the Iskcon temple or a five-star hotel, we have no choice but to ask our clients to reduce the volume as most of the banquet halls fall under the silence zone," he added.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Girish Gowlani, owner of Jaipal decorators from Andheri, has a similar grouse.u00a0
"Some concession should be given for wedding processions. There should be some deadline or the BMC can prescribe noise levels to be maintained by the band," he suggested.u00a0
However, R A Rajeev, additional municipal commissioner, said, "According to the law, no noise should be made in areas identified as silence zones. No special permission will be given to the people on any ground."u00a0 Those who rent out bands for weddings are also seeing a slump in business. "Since the silence zones have been declared, there has been a 30 per cent loss in business. People now ask for fewer bands, as most halls and grounds come under the silence zones," said Ashok Bhambri, a wedding band provider from Antop Hill.u00a0u00a0
Without the hullabaloo, the wedding seems incomplete, feel many. Ismail Parkar, an NRI, was very upset with the BMC's ruling, as he was not permitted to play the band for his son's wedding that took place at Hotel Sun-N-Sand, Juhu. "We tried getting permission from the traffic police for the wedding procession, but we were refused, as it is a silent zone."
Keep it down here
Juhu: JW Marriott, Ramee Guestline, Iskcon Temple, Juhu Gymkhana, Utpal Shanghvi School
Bandra: MET College, u00a0St Andrew's College
South Mumbai: Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba; Taj President, Cuffe Parade
Powai: Rodas Ecotel Hotel
Worli: Mayfair
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