Drought impact: Shivamogga village bans post-marriage non-vegetarian feasts

Illustration by sebastian francis

Residents of Harigi, a village about 30 km from Shikaripur in Shivamogga district, have resolved to ban non-vegetarian feasts at weddings - beegaroota - in view of the severe drought affecting the agrarian community.

Villagers who met earlier this week discussed the issue and announced the prohibition. The Grama Abhivruddhi Samiti (village development committee), comprising village elders, will enforce the resolution and impose penalties on violators.

Under the decision, no resident may host such a feast in the village or attend one organised elsewhere. The committee has fixed a penalty of ₹1 lakh on those who host a feast in violation of the resolution and ₹50,000 on those who attend such events as guests.

Burden of debt

Villagers said the decision followed a series of incidents in which families were left burdened with debt after hosting these events. “Until 10 years ago, we did not have the tradition of hosting elaborate feasts. It entered our village in recent years and has quickly become an integral part of the ceremony. Families of both the groom and the bride arrange feasts. Some families have spent up to ₹10 lakh on one feast,” said Shekharaj, president of the Grama Abhivruddhi Samiti.