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The big fat Indian wedding has a slim and quiet version in this village of Uttar Pradesh.
Rampur's Taunkpuri Tanda is 200-odd km from Delhi. But the weddings are light years apart. Not only has the village done away with noisy baarat and wastage of food, the groom's party has to arrive right on time. Else, for each minute of delay, they have to pay a fine of Rs 100.
"A marriage party arriving late in Taunkpuri Tanda from any place - be it a village, city or province -- is deemed inauspicious," said Maulana Arshad, cleric of the village.
A procession is supposed to reach the bride's place exactly at the time fixed by Maulvis.
"In case the procession reaches late, the grooms' parents have to pay a fine of Rs 100 per minute," the Maulana said. "Due to this practice, Nikah ceremonies are performed at the fixed time, whereas elsewhere the time schedule is rarely honoured."
The tradition, he added, also ensures that the women remain safe from any possible foul play, he said.
The village, with a population of around 10,000 people, follows some other interesting norms.
The usual dancing in the streets by the groom's procession, loud music or beating of drums and wastage of food are a strict no-no.
"Dancing in streets and beating of drums is completely prohibited," the Malana said. "We observe all the practices and pleasantries, but the villagers here have discarded the undesired expenditure, pomp and show and do not allow wastage of food items."