However, the very auspiciousness of the day has created problems for those who are entering wedlock today. The enormous demand for tents, bands and banquet halls has resulted in a huge hike in prices. While some complain about not getting bookings in their desired banquet halls, others have not been able to get the caterer of their choice.

Mahendra Mishra, an astrologer, explains the rush: ``We have a perfect planetary configuration today which has resulted in a `Shubh Mahurat' or the perfect day for a wedding. Similarly, December 11 and December 13 are also very good days to get married. Though we have 25-30 such days in a year, because the stars have come in this order after almost a month-and-a-half, there is a rush''.

Says Hemant Kochar, owner of Bhagwati Caterers in Mayur Vihar: ``No one can say exactly how many weddings are taking place today, but I would say that at least 15,000-16,000 weddings are being held all across the city today. And barring those who made early bookings, everyone else has had to pay through their nose''.

Kochar adds: ``The cost of tents itself has doubled. Normally we charge anything between Rs 15,000 - Rs 3 lakh depending on the kind of arrangement. For today, the minimum rate is at Rs 30,000, everything is double. The same goes for bands and the mare, flowers, photographers and videographers''.

Saurabh Gupta, proprietor of Geeta Banquet Hall, tells us: ``We had to turn away countless people. Everyone wanted a booking for today and at whatever price possible. But what can we do, we can accommodate only one afternoon wedding and one evening wedding. The rates are also higher because the prices of raw materials like paneer, curd, khoya, flowers and everything else has risen because of the demand''.

Similarly, Ramesh Chauhan of Gupta Bands says: ``We have had so many bookings for one day that it is unbelievable. The band is working two shifts but it is still not enough and today even our feeble looking mares are fetching a handsome price. There are few days like this but they are good for business, so we are not complaining''.

And as for the guests to these weddings, they are in a fix. Says Sushil Minocha, a resident of Pahar Ganj: ``I have been invited to six weddings and it is very hard to decided where to go and where not to. Since the people closest to us are holding the wedding at one end of the city and the others are in the other direction, I think we will just be able to make it for one wedding and apologise to the rest''.