Garhwal takes a vow: 3 pieces of gold jewellery, no booze at weddings

DEHRADUN/UTTARKASHI: Villages in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region have begun enforcing new wedding norms - limiting women to wearing only three gold ornaments and banning alcohol - as part of a community-led effort "to bring simplicity and equality back into marriage rituals". The rules, passed recently by village panchayats in Chakrata's tribal belt and in Uttarkashi's Dunda block, aim to reduce wedding expenses, end displays of wealth and protect families from the rising costs of social expectation. In Chakrata's Kandhad and Indroli villages, the panchayat ruled that women would be permitted to wear only a nose pin, mangalsutra and earrings at weddings. Families that violate the restriction will be fined Rs 50,000, residents said. The resolution, which was passed unanimously, followed in