Ten days into the New Year has brought an unexpected reprieve from the heat that had been gripping the state, and with it some sporadic rains. The sudden change in the weather patterns has caused anxiety among bridal couples and uncertainty in the wedding industry.
One of Alfred Rose’s famous song Kalchi Koddi speaks of how it poured at a wedding leading to the guests surmising that the groom loved to devour his meals in an earthen pot. Here is how the song goes.
Pai maka kazar korunk fuddem sorlo, (My father was excited to get me married)
Open air hallan vhor bitor kadlo, (We booked an open air hall for the reception)
Poileach nachak, koslo goddghoddo marlo, (For the first dance, it started to thunder)
Avoi nachtam nachtam koslo saiba paus poddlo, (While dancing it poured cats and dogs)
Kazarak ailolo lok mhunnonk laglo, (All those who attended the wedding said,)
Novro mista, sodanch kuddnean jeutalo. (Appears that the groom liked to eat in a clay pot)
WE HAD THE BEST TIME
Well for sure newlyweds Reuben Bonamis and Oshin da Costa did not eat from the kuddne (earthen pot), but all the same they had to go home drenched as it rained at their wedding on January 3.
“We had planned the wedding in advance and till the very end I didn’t think that it would rain. Lucky for us, it rained just after the wedding dance sets were completed. My groom and I decided that we should make the best of this time, so we both danced to our hearts content. There were a few pictures which were clicked too,” says Oshin.
She adds, “Initially, like the other guests we too took shelter under a shade, I saw people covering electronic items, our wedding cake getting soaked. But we realised that instead of hiding from the rain let’s embrace it. My dress was soaking wet, but I didn’t think twice. I’ll always remember it.”
Another bride-to-be from Margao had scheduled her roce ceremony, when it started raining on January 9. “I was a bit upset about it, and my parents were worried that I might fall ill on the day of the wedding.
There was a massive debate if the roce ceremony should take place in the balcony or in the garden. But luckily, a few of my friends and uncles managed to put up a few tarpaulin sheets and we had the roce there. It didn’t rain very heavily later, so we carried out the festivities in the garden as planned,” says the bride-to-be, who hopes that the wedding goes without any rain.
UNPREDICTABLE RAINS ARE A WORRY
However, the wedding industry can get a little edgy because of the sudden rains. Among them are photographers who make sure that they carry their safety gear with them but are also very careful as the cameras cost a lot. “The equipment we use at weddings is very expensive, and unpredicted rain can cause a lot of damage. Even though we use huge umbrellas and the gear is covered in protective shields, we have to be cautious.”
Cancio Mascarenhas, who owns a wedding hall in Nuvem, is planning to look for ways where the wedding hall can use technology that gives it a covering of sorts during inclement weather. “I was wondering, if there is a way to cover the top of the dance floor, which can be dismantled when not in use and during times like these, it could be set up instantly. It has to look classy too.”
Though, Goa witnessed a few days of gloomy weather, the spirit of weddings can never go wrong. The unprecedented rainfall, however, might be a concern which needs to be factored in the planning of the wedding.