Don’t tell the bride – Afghans try to curb the spiralling cost of weddings

Published on 30/07/2012 00:00

A LAW curbing the costs of lavish weddings is proving difficult for Afghanistan to enact, with many MPs opposed to legislation meant to contain the crippling bills in one of the world’s poorest countries, a top government adviser said yesterday.

Since the austere Taleban fell from power in 2001, Afghans have revived the tradition of holding extravagant weddings, costing thousands of pounds, in a country where the average annual income is less than £250.

But after complaints from the families of grooms, who are expected to foot the bill, the government has been working on new laws capping the number of guests at about 300.

“There was an idea in the ministry of justice to bring some kind of discipline, so that the family of the bridegroom does not suffer that much,” said the ministry’s top adviser, 
Mohmmad Qasim Hashimzai.

“But then some people expressed opinions – especially some experts – that it was a private issue, that we should not intrude,” he said.

Hundreds of guests attend the weddings held in luxurious halls or in hotels, with clothing, food and music driving up costs.

The government’s bid to regulate the size of celebrations follows a ban last year on expensive weddings and dowries introduced by district governments in some areas to encourage young people to marry instead of postponing their nuptials due to spiralling costs.

Mr Hashimzai said there had been significant opposition to the proposed law within president Hamid Karzai’s cabinet.

He added that the laws would be almost impossible to enforce even if they were introduced.

“I suppose some people may go to the family of the bride and say, you cannot invite more that 300 guests. But I think it will be very difficult to control it.”