VADODARA: Marriage season is peaking and revellers are splurging on cacophonous crackers and deafening DJ music showing little concern about the nuisance caused.But, the scene in remote Malaja and Devaliya village of Chhota Udepur has been a stark contrast to such wild celebrations seen in big fat weddings . A couple in the vilage recently tied the nuptial knots, but there neither music, nor dance or crackers.Setting an example of austerity and awareness, the people in these far-flung villages can teach a lesson or two in austerity and curbing noise and air pollution to others.The two villages, which are at a distance of 17 km from each, have prohibited DJs and brass bands during weddings to save money. What is more interesting is the fact that the blanket ban has been a unanimous decision taken by elders of villages 25 years back. The decision has been religious followed for so many years.“The villagers had taken this decision 25 years ago to save money. A DJ or a band charge thousands of rupees, which only add to the financial burden of the families,” said Jayanti Rathwa, sarpanch of Malaja. “When there are no such revelries, even the nuisance of people indulging in drunken theatrics stops,” he said.However, Jayanti does not remember why such a decision was taken suddenly.Jayanti said that the groom’s side gather at a particular place in the village and then walk to the venue of the wedding. “Our village is anyway small, so there is no problem of walking a small distance,” said Jayanti, who heads a village of 3,500 people.He added that nobody has requested or tried to break the rule even after so many years.While Malaja has banned DJs and bands, Devaliya village does not even have the practice of the procession which is popularly called ‘varghodo’.“There is no procession so there is no question of having music during the wedding ceremonies. The groom’s family members reach at the venue which is generally the girl’s house at the time of ceremonies and the guests come at their time of convenience,” said sarpanch of Devaliya Soniyabhai Rathwa.However, the young generation of Devaliya has lately started to organize dance parties few days before the wedding by bringing in a DJ or folk band.

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