Hyderabad:
Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a huge rush of couples tying the nupital knot across the state during the three-day auspicious period of 'Maghamasam' month, which ends on Friday.
As per the estimates, more than two lakh marriages are expected to be performed in the state as people believe the next auspicious days for weddings will only begin after three months.
'Maghamasam' is an auspicious month for marriages, according to Telugu almanac (Panchagam).
Over 2 lakh weddings, including over 50,000 in Hyderabad alone, are expected to be performed on February 13, 14 and 15 'muhurtham' days in the state, according to priests and owners of function halls.
"After February 15, 'Sukra-moodham' and 'Guru-moodham' will start which is considered an inauspicious period for marriages. That will continue till May second week. Also Ravi (Sun) is in exalted position during these three days and that's why there is huge rush for marriages," said Vanaja Rao, founder of 'Vanaja Rao', Quick Marriages Pvt Ltd, a marriage consultancy firm.
Almost all the marriage halls and function halls have already been booked in advance for the marriages in Hyderabad and different parts of Andhra Pradesh where people were heading in large number to participate in the weddings of their near and dear ones.
Function halls in Secunderabad and other parts of the city charge around Rs 3 lakh for a wedding, however, given the demand for the function halls, managements have hiked charges.
Even priests are in huge demand and are busy performing weddings.
According to some priests there are no other muhurthams in June and July months while others say there are no suitable dates for weddings till October.
Bhaskar Rao from Visakhapatnam, an employee of a private organisation who performed his daughter's wedding on Thursday, said he believes in the 'muhurtham' and hurried the event.
He said he would not mind spending a couple of thousand rupees more due to rush for function halls and other facilities.