The evidence of social life in Steel City limping back to normalcy lies in the healthy number of clubs, hotels, and lawns being booked for weddings now. With the marriage season on, several shamianas and pandals are back with a bang.

A marriage-cum-reception ceremony was hosted at G-Town Officers Club in Bistupur, on Sunday, amid some restrictions imposed, in accordance with the Covid-19 guidelines.

“This is the first marriage-cum-reception party for the city. I am pleased to have resumed my business as a decorator after a gap of eight-month. However, the resumption has cost me a lot,” said Arvind Kumar Singh, owner of Shubham Tent, the firm that took care of the decoration at the G-Town Officers Club while talking to The Telegraph Online.

Singh pointed out that many decoration items, furniture, and clothes had to be replaced with new stock. “We had to buy a new stock of clothes and had to get the furniture refurbished, as the stored materials had lost its look. It was like starting the business afresh,” said the decorator.

The host of the reception party, on condition of anonymity said, “We had a list for 500 plus guests. But the restrictions have compelled us to invite only close friends and relatives.”

As per administrative guidelines issued on November 1, a maximum of 200 guests is now allowed to attend a marriage ceremony or a reception party. The sitting arrangement for the guests has to be done as per the social distancing norms.

“The menacing Covid is no longer a hurdle. With the marriage season taking off, we are expecting a boom in our business this December,” said Abdul Rahman, a Bistupur-based florist.