Around this time of the year, the month, being Chithirai as per the tamil calendar, caterers in madurai are usually snowed under with orders, the sweltering heat of the agni nakshatram (May) not doing much to help them. In madurai, Meenatchi Thirukalyanam is a major annual event, part of the Chithirai festival that is celebrated in the month of April. However, this year, during the nationwide lockdown announced to break the chair of novel coronavirus spread in the country, the festival was cancelled.The big season begins soon after Meenatchi Thirukalyanam,” says Kumar from Madurai’s Uma caterers over the phone. In madurai, Uma Caterers have been in business since 1990 and are best known for their non-vegetarian food items.
Meanwhile the cancellation of the event has come as a big blow to caterers who get a major chunk of their orders during this season. “Now all that has been cancelled. The coming month, Vaikasi (May 15 to june 15) is a big wedding season. Because the government has cancelled all weddings, many of us have lost our livelihoods,” he says.“About 80% of those who had already fixed wedding dates have postponed them,” he says. “The remaining 20% have held small weddings, by inviting few guests. However, they have promised to hold a big reception after all this comes to an end. We hope it happens.”
Kumar’s story is reflected from all those involved in the catering business across the state. In chennai, balaji of Pattapas, a 6th generation family run catering business who are best known for their vegetarian menu, stares at an empty calendar. “We closed business on march 12. Since then there has been no bookings. people have cancelled their orders, and taken back their advance. About 35 weddings that were booked with us until august this year have been cancelled,” he shares. Pattapas, we are told by balaji, receive about 70 wedding orders annually in chennai area.
