Down the aisle... and into the pool...

By Chamintha Thilakarathna

Ranil and Samantha (not their real names) were an eager couple who began their wedding countdown months in advance. But, when the big day finally arrived, they could not have wanted it to end sooner. Minutes after the main ceremony, a section of their guests turned unruly and sprayed shaving lotion all over Ranil's face.

This prank by his 'so-called friends' left Ranil unable to open his eyes for 30 minutes. Samantha was bathed in a stinking mixture of liquor, egg and water.

Her exquisite bridal, chosen with such care and anticipation was ruined. Their big day turned into a nightmare.

How much more will young brides and grooms have to suffer humiliation on what should be the happiest day of their lives? What once was an innocent "rag" by the friends of the couple, often some smutty jokes scrawled in lipstick on their car or embarrassing stickers pasted on one's door, is increasingly turning out to be an emotionally damaging and physically threatening ordeal.

It's no longer just fun. For parents it is a curse, little did they imagine what they would have to encounter when planning a beloved child's wedding.

While they have to foot the bill for additional damages, their children's safety is also on the line.

Many parents feel that nowadays, the limit has been overstepped to the extent that one might be forced to request for additional security for the couple.

Hoteliers are not happy with what they see as an increasingly destructive trend. Hotel managers are now probing prospective customers with care before accepting their wedding bookings.

"My god, we have experienced weddings with so much harassment to the couple, that it ended with the hotel having the difficult task of trying to get the eggs and flour off the carpet," said Grand Oriental Hotel Assistant Banquet Manager, A.Clements.

He recalled an incident where after the wedding ceremony, the couple was unable to make use of any of the clothes they had packed for their honeymoon for the friends had entered their room and damaged and sewn up every item.

"Everything in the room, except for the carpet was damaged with sprays, or posters. The clothes were scattered all over the room also," he said.

The Hilton's Banquet Manager said that they are on their guard against such incidents. "In our hotel, we would not allow these things. Of course, a simple rag is something that everyone undergoes when they get married, but it should not be carried to extremes. We make sure that our guests seem the calibre who do not entertain such things," he said.

The Mount Lavinia hotel has actually taken serious steps to put a stop to the inhuman ragging at weddings.

Couples booking for weddings at Mt. Lavinia not only have to place their signature agreeing to abide by rules on ragging within the hotel premises but also make sure that their furniture, etc., are not damaged either.

A statement prepared by the hotel management reads: ".....we would like you to feel you are looked after at all times.

It is in this context that we wish to kindly advise you not to allow your guests to throw the newly wedded couple into the pond or into the swimming pool.

There have been instances where bridal couples have been bodily injured when they have fallen victim to such behaviour. There was also an occasion when a bride lost her precious ring. May we also caution you that friends of honeymoon couple sometimes resort to perverse acts to the bedroom which is to be occupied by the couple.

The only way to prevent this is to have the key to the bedroom kept with parents of the coupleor with a trusted person of the family............... solicit your kind assistance to enable us to make your memorable occasion a grand success free from unrestrained happenings.'

SSP Rienzi Perera, of Police Headquarters advises all couples and family members who have been subjected to such brutal harassment to report to the nearest police stations with immediate effect.

"A case was brought to my notice where perfume had been sprayed into the eyes of the groom and flour put on the couple in addition to other acts. Physical or mental injury through ragging could be reported and taken to courts," he said.

In order to put a stop to such incidents, people should be made aware that if they have evidence of ragging, such as photos, tapes, etc., they could file a complaint.

The court might then decide if it is an attempted murder, or if it should be taken as assault, harassment and intimidation.

"These raggers could be put behind bars, through the courts, if there is serious injury of any sort," he said.

Such ragging should not be considered a laughing matter. And, accommodating such actions for the sake of friendship and to avoid future embarrassment in office circles, is a bigger crime.

Besides, are these really "friends" who are willing to spoil the memories of a lifetime, or even cause you physical injury, for the sake of deriving some perverted pleasure?

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