As poverty spreads and economic difficulties increase across the country, several wedding hall managers have expressed concern over the decline in their business. According to them, the number of wedding ceremonies held in wedding halls has decreased considerably compared to previous years, and many families can no longer afford to hold their celebrations in such venues due to economic hardship. Wedding hall managers add that Taliban members and their affiliates now make up the majority of clients at upscale wedding halls. According to them, these individuals typically choose luxurious halls for their ceremonies and order the most expensive service packages and the most elaborate catering menus. Meanwhile, several Kabul residents say the problem is not limited to hall costs alone; rising prices for the toyana (bride price), gold, clothing, and other wedding-related expenses have also placed heavy financial pressure on families, turning the prospect of holding a wedding into a difficult aspiration for many.
Zia (pseudonym), the manager of one wedding hall in Kabul, expressed concern over the declining business of wedding halls. According to him, the number of wedding ceremonies held in halls has decreased compared to the past, and families are choosing the cheapest food options due to economic difficulties.
This wedding hall manager says, “We can no longer say business is good. We do not have the same level of activity as before. Now it is rare for anyone to hold a wedding at the hall, and if they do, they order the cheapest menu. Many families even hold their ceremonies on weekdays in the middle of the week so that fewer guests attend. Some who choose a more expensive menu remove two or three dishes to reduce costs.”
Pointing to the difference between the current situation and previous years, Zia adds: “Before, our business was so brisk that all the hall’s dates were booked in advance, and many clients had to wait fifteen days to a month for their turn. Income was good, and our staff also received decent salaries.” According to him, the decline in the number of ceremonies has forced them to cut staff and reduce employee salaries.
Zia adds: “Because of the decline in events, we reduced the number of staff, and the salaries of some of them have also been lowered. I hope people’s economic situation improves so they can hold their ceremonies in wedding halls and create memorable moments with their families and friends.”
Shekab Mahmoudi (pseudonym), another wedding hall manager in Kabul, says Taliban members and their affiliates currently make up the majority of clients at upscale wedding halls. According to him, these individuals choose luxurious halls for their weddings, engagement ceremonies, family gatherings, and even their official meetings and events, and typically order the most complete and expensive service packages and menus.
Mr. Mahmoudi says, “Nowadays, ordinary people no longer have the financial means to hold their gatherings in wedding halls. Most families prefer to hold ceremonies at home to pay less. He adds: “Even though many halls have lowered the cost of holding events, improved the quality of their services, renovated their buildings, and provided more modern facilities, people’s economic situation has become so difficult that they cannot even afford these reduced costs.”
Sohrab (pseudonym), who is searching for an affordable hall to hold his brother’s wedding, says he has visited seven wedding halls so far but has still not been able to find an option that matches their financial means. He says, “We want to hold my brother’s wedding, but the costs are very high. Even half of the money we have is borrowed, and it is still not enough. Unemployment has risen, people’s income has decreased, and the price of everything has gone up. It is not just the cost of the hall; all living expenses have increased.”
Sohrab adds: “The toyana (bride price), gold, clothing, and other wedding expenses each carry a heavy financial burden. If we wanted to hold the ceremony at home, we do not have enough space, and the noise from the event would disturb the neighbors. On the other hand, properly hosting guests at home is also difficult, which is why we prefer to hold the ceremony at a hall, but we cannot afford the costs.”
Reza (pseudonym), a father who held his son’s wedding ceremony at one of Kabul’s wedding halls a few days ago, says the final cost of the event was much higher than the amount they had initially agreed upon with the hall. He says, “Before the wedding, we searched through many halls until we finally found a relatively affordable one. We had agreed with the hall managers on a specific amount, but when it came time to settle the bill, they asked us for nearly 50,000 Afghanis more than the agreed amount. Since the event was already over, I had to look for a loan to come up with that extra 50,000 Afghanis.”
Reza adds: “Before this, we also looked at many halls for my niece’s wedding, but since they could not afford the costs, they eventually had to hold the ceremony at home. Today, many families forgo holding ceremonies at wedding halls due to economic difficulties.”
This comes as several owners of cafes and restaurants for women had previously complained, in an interview with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, about a decline in their business. They had said that girls and women no longer visit cafes and restaurants as they used to. According to them, around 300 restaurants invested in and managed by women previously operated across Afghanistan, but that number has now dropped to around 150.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
فشار فقر بر مردم، رونق برای طالبان؛ تالارهای مجلل کابل مشتریان تازه یافتهاند
