Pushkaralu in 2015 causes marriage rush in December 2014

Also, since there are very few muhurthams in 2015, more than 1 lakh marriages are expected to be performed in the state in this period.

Priest and astrologer Dr M. Hanumaniya said that the auspicious “Maghamasam” begins from the evening of December 5. December 7 (Sunday), is considered to be the most auspicious day; there are a few muhurthams in the morning, but the entire night is considered auspicious. Again December 10, December 17 and December 18 are good days.

However, from December 19, Sunyamasam will start and there are no good days till January 22. There are a very few muhurthams in 2015, starting from the end of January till March 15, and then there will be none owing to the Godavari Pushkaralu. It is believed that no marriage should take place in the year of the Pushkaralu.

“Maghamasam is an auspicious month for marriages according to the Telugu almanac (panchagam). Over one lakh weddings are expected to be performed in Telangana and AP starting from the evening of December 5 till December 19,” said priests and owners of function halls.

Almost all marriage and function halls have already been booked in advance in the twin cities and different parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Function halls in the twin cities charge between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh per day for a wedding. However, given the heavy demand, managements have hiked the price up to Rs 7 lakh. Even priests are in huge demand and have been booked in advance.

K. Hanumanth Reddy, a state government employee who will be performing his son’s wedding on December 12, said, “Though all the function halls are booked in advance, we don’t mind spending a couple of thousand rupees more as long as the wedding is performed during the good muhurtham.”