'Trend is perverted': Chhattisgarh Sahu Sangh bans pre-wedding photo shoots to curb extravagance; launches counselling

RAIPUR: The Sahu Sangh imposed a complete ban on pre-wedding photo shoots for community members across Chhattisgarh to curb extravagance and restore traditional values, following a unanimous decision at a state-level meeting in Raipur chaired by the community's state president, Dr Neerendra Sahu.The meeting, attended by all district presidents of the Sahu Sangh, resolved that pre-wedding shoots, seen as symbols of extravagance and social showmanship, would no longer be permitted. Community leaders said the step aimed to curb unnecessary expenditure and discourage ostentation that placed social pressure on families."We held a meeting on January 17 where the Samaj unanimously decided to work towards preserving the values and culture of the community and to send a strong social message," Dr Sahu, a veterinary professional, told TOI. "We are also making efforts to protect society from a distorted and perverted mindset that promotes unhealthy trends."The meeting also decided to introduce a pre-marriage counselling facility to guide young couples. Dr Sahu said the Samaj observed a rise in marital disputes, with thousands of written applications for divorce reaching the community body. "Pre-wedding shoots go against our values and culture and also impose a financial burden, especially on families from weaker sections.

This trend is perverted and should not be encouraged," he said.The Sahu Sangh also planned to develop a registration mechanism at the panchayat level to ensure marriages within the community were formally registered. Dr Sahu said the community's long-standing social justice system would be further strengthened through these measures."We will take this message to the entire Sahu Sangh, whose population in the state is around 75 lakh, to bring about positive social change in the interest of our youth," he said. "Through mutual understanding and our social justice system, we have already resolved lakhs of marriage-related disputes, and these decisions will give that system more strength."