Season of big, fat wedding: City sees surgein ceremonies amid limited auspicious dates
Times of India | 8 February 2026
Kolkata: Kolkata and its adjoining areas are witnessing a surge in wedding ceremonies this weekend, as families make the most of a narrow window of auspicious dates after a prolonged two-month lull in the marriage season.
Those associated with the wedding industry estimate that several thousand weddings across faiths are scheduled over the next few days, driving up demand for wedding-related services. "The wedding season began in early Dec, but there was a long break because there were no favourable dates," said Raj Jaiswal, founder of Wedding Sutra, a Kolkata-based wedding planner. "The wedding season resumed in Feb, and venues are full, photographers are booked months in advance, and service providers are working at capacity."
Industry insiders said the high number of weddings is being driven by multiple factors. One of the key reasons is an upcoming gap in auspicious wedding dates, prompting families to complete ceremonies before the window closes. The season is also drawing to an end ahead of Holi, after which wedding activity typically slows. Many families avoid weddings during summer.
In addition, a significant number of Muslim weddings are taking place ahead of the commencement of Ramzan in a few days. Since people are busy fasting and praying during Ramzan, people generally plan weddings before the holy month. In fact, there are many wedding dates in Feb.
Banquet owners say most popular venues are fully booked, while make-up artists, decorators, caterers and DJs are handling multiple events in a day. Wedding photographers, in particular, report packed schedules with little room for last-minute bookings. "Even after doing two to three weddings per day we are turning down several other assignments," said Soumik Ghosh, a city-based wedding photographer.
According to estimates from two national trade bodies, weddings this season are expected to generate substantial business in Bengal. The Confederation of West Bengal Trade Associations estimates that the current wedding season could generate between Rs 55,000 crore and Rs 60,000 crore in trade across the state. This spending extends beyond wedding arrangements and includes jewellery, clothing, travel and hospitality.