New Delhi: Bengaluru weddings have become the latest casualty of the LPG shortage that the country is facing currently. Amidst unavailability of cooking gas cylinders in many metropolitan cities, including Bengaluru, the lavish spread during weddings in the city, including curries, sweets, palyas, sambar and rasam, all served on banana leaves are now missing. But due to the shortage of LPG cylinders, this wedding season, the caterers have been forced to cut short the menus at the weddings in the city.
While some are forced to entirely take off some dishes from their menus, others are altering the preparation methods to continue to cater to clients. However, many of the caterers are being forced to decline new bookings, due to the shortage of LPG cylinders in the city.
‘Have to supply food somehow’: Caterers amidst LPG shortage
The Times of India quoted a caterer, MK Varadarajan as saying, “We are suffering because of the gas shortage. Weddings are already booked and we have to supply food somehow.”
He said that usually around 18 to 20 food items are prepared for any wedding. But now, they have been forced to remove at least 5 items from the menu. According to Vardarajan, they have reduced gravies in rasam and sambar and are focusing on preparing sweets, which require less cooking time.
He said that the focus was on cooking food in less batches and those that consume less gas.
Another caterer said that the reduction in supply of LPG has forced them to cut down on preparation of traditional dishes. Some caterers are not taking any new orders and have decided to provide food only at those weddings which were pre-booked.
The caterers said that the food quality and quantity are both getting impacted due to the fuel shortage.
No change in wedding plans
However, most of the pre-planned weddings in the city are going ahead. No major changes have been reported regarding the weddings, said member of the committee of Karnataka Marriage Halls Welfare Association, Annath Kumar. He said that in order to help caterers, the Association is allowing them to use firewood for cooking.
With the wedding season set to last for a few more weeks, the caterers said that they hoped that the situation would stabilise soon, and LPG would be available again in proper quantity.