Firdous Ahmad
Business Reporter | The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Nov 11: In a significant decision aimed at addressing the growing trend of late-night wedding functions and alleged exploitation of workers, the Waza Association has unanimously decided that its members will not serve at weddings or other functions beyond 10 pm.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the association, where members expressed deep resentment over what they described as the increasingly inhuman treatment meted out to Wazas and their workers during wedding functions.
Association president Ghulam Nabi Baba said there had been a serious degradation in social values, with wedding functions increasingly extending into the early hours of the morning, leaving Waza workers exhausted after working for unusually long hours.
Recalling a recent incident, Baba said a groom arrived at around 1:30 am for a wedding function, by which time the Maulvi invited to solemnise the Nikah had already left after waiting for the groom.
The family subsequently approached a local Imam to perform the Nikah. The Imam initially expressed his inability, saying he did not have the necessary expertise, but was eventually persuaded by the family to solemnise the marriage.
“Such is the situation we have reached. We are being treated inhumanly. Our workers report for duty at 10 am and are made to work until the following morning, sometimes even after Fajr prayers. Nobody seems concerned about their condition,” Baba said.
The Wazas also expressed deep disgust over the treatment they receive at wedding functions, particularly the condition of bedding arrangements provided to them.
They alleged that workers are often made to rest on torn or foul-smelling bedding, despite families spending lakhs of rupees on other aspects of wedding celebrations.
The association members questioned why people who spend lavishly on wedding arrangements fail to ensure even basic facilities and dignified treatment for Waza professionals and their workers.
They said those responsible for preparing and serving Wazwan, an essential part of Kashmiri wedding culture, were frequently subjected to conditions that did not reflect the respect their profession deserved.
“People spend lakhs of rupees on different wedding arrangements, but when it comes to providing us with basic facilities, even clean bedding is not ensured. We are sometimes given torn or smelly bedding. Is this how people should be treated?” the members questioned.
Baba said the association had taken a collective decision to put an end to the practice of keeping Waza teams engaged throughout the night.
“After today’s meeting, we have unanimously decided that no Waza in Kashmir will serve any wedding or other function beyond 10 pm. Our workers must also be allowed to leave after their working hours,” he said.
The decision, the association said, would apply collectively to Waza service providers across Kashmir.
The move is expected to trigger a wider discussion on increasingly late wedding schedules, the treatment of traditional service providers and the need to ensure dignity and reasonable working conditions for thousands of people associated with Kashmir’s traditional Waza profession.
