A view of a Firayalal Banquet. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, April 19: Their ceremony might not be as grand as the AbAsh wedding, but they can surely boast of one thing they have in common with the Bollywood couple — the wedding date.

Many would tie the knot tomorrow as Hindu mythology declares April 19 and 20 as most auspicious days, calling it the Akshya Tritiya.

It is a popular belief that if a wedding takes place on these dates or if goods are purchased, it would bring prosperity and good luck.

Hotels and dharamsalas are running a full house till April 30, announcing the arrival of the wedding season.

Though new trends are on the roll, families are keeping tradition in place and booking horses and decorating mandaps in the style of the Delhi Gate and Kathmandu temple.

The red drapes are being replaced by off-beat colours like cream, magenta, brown, purple and pink, embellished with zardosi, sequins, dust powder, beads and appliqué work, laced with decorative flowers.

General manager of Hotel Ashoka, S.K. Srivastava said this year there was a spill over as far as bookings are concerned.

“We have made special arrangements for those who have booked our hotel. They do not have to rush to caterers, flower decorators, tent owners or light arrangers. Everything would be our responsibility and our clients need not worry about anything,” the general manager said.

Sunil Verma, secretary of Ranchi Club, said they have renovated their hall and have parking facilities in place, too.

An official of Gymkhana Club, Vishwakarma, said they have renovated the club hall with pink walls and glass panels. Around 15 marriages would be solemnised here. Three lawns are also in proper order for the wedding party, he said.

Flower owners have also come up with albums of latest mandap designs.

They have also arranged for special varieties of flowers like gladoli from Siliguri apart from the regular carnations, jarbera and Dutch roses.

“We are receiving orders in accordance to one’s budget. Mandap decorations have also taken new designs. For instance, there was one party at Ramgarh where we had an opportunity to adorn the mandap with golden pillars,” said Vinod Bhagat, owner of Hari Malakar near Kutchery Road.

Soni Srivasatava, a resident of Morhabadi who is scheduled to get married tomorrow with a Pune-based software engineer, said both families want the groom to come on a horse. “Though this concept is quite popular in Delhi we definitely wanted it for our wedding,” she said.