In recent years in India, weddings have become more of a carnival, than simply a ceremony solemnising one’s marriage. ‘Societal pressures’ often dictate the budget allotted to these festivities, resulting in many spending their life’s savings and becoming debt-ridden. This is why this IAS officer’s son’s wedding breaks the mould, not just in terms of a typical Indian wedding, but also because here’s someone who holds a bureaucratic post but refuses to succumb to society’s expectations of extravagance.
P Basanth Kumar, Metropolitan Commissioner at Visakhapatnam Metro Region Development Authority (VMRDA), Andhra Pradesh, has planned a simple wedding ceremony for his son on February 10. His son Abhinav Manas Patnala, currently serving as manager (probation) in Andhra Bank will marry Lavanya Nidamanuri, an practising doctor, at a low key ceremony in Vishakhapatnam. The couple has requested guests not to come to the ceremony with gifts or bouquets which is accordingly mentioned in the card: “blessings only – no bouquets- no gifts”.
The family of the bride will also contribute Rs. 18,000 to the ceremony. In 2017, Basanth Kumar had married off his daughter on a budget wedding that cost just Rs 16,100.
An IAS officer is setting an example. Decides to spend a paltry of Rs.18000 only for his son’s wedding.
— Raveendran P (@Pragit) February 7, 2019
He must be a Saint amongst —
_____— Kumar Sanjay (@advocateks) February 8, 2019
Every Indian must follow this.
— Kumaranandh (@kumarananth) February 8, 2019
Last year, amid a slew of high profile celeb weddings, a Pakistani man won hearts by sharing a Twitter thread explaining how he managed to pull off his own wedding by spending a mere Rs 20,000.
