Andhra Pradesh IAS officer plans simple wedding for son, to spend just Rs 18000

Lavish display of wealth at Indian weddings is all too common. However, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Andhra is bucking the trend and setting an example for others.

Patnala Basanth Kumar, Commissioner, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) will be spending just Rs. 18,000 on his son’s wedding, which is scheduled to take place in Visakhapatnam on February 10.

The families of the bridegroom and bride will contribute Rs. 18,000 each on the ceremony, including lunch for the guests.

This is not the first time that Basant Kumar has decided to conduct an economical wedding. In 2017 as well, he had spent a mere Rs 16,100 on his daughter’s marriage.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan will bless the couple, Abhinav Kumar Manas and Lavanya Nidamanuri, at the simple ceremony on Friday.

While Abhinav Kumar is a bank manager, Lavanya Nidamanuri is a practising doctor.

Basanth Kumar, who was promoted to IAS cadre in 2012, had earlier served as Officer on



Special Duty and Joint Secretary to Governor Narasimhan.

Many are praising Basanth Kumar for his simplicity. The simple wedding invitation also requests guests not to give bouquets or gifts and is accordingly mentioned in the card, "blessings only - no bouquets- no gifts".

“I am spending Rs 1.5 where I am permitted to spend up to Rs 5. The snacks will cost Rs 7.50 per head, as against the permissible amount of Rs 10," Basanth Kumar told a newspaper.

Except Rs 1000 for a priest and Rs 500 for a professional cook, vegetables for the meals are being provided by families of Radhasoami Satsang, which is a spiritual community known for its simple lifestyle. The vegetables are grown in their gardens. Community members will also help in preparing sweets.

As many as 200 Satsang families from the Dayalsingh Nagar locality where Basanth Kumar stays, will be doing their bit to help conduct the wedding.

The marriage is set to be held in Visakhapatnam's Dayalsingh Nagar on February 10, and will see the presence of VIPs from different walks of life.