India - Household Consumer Expenditure: NSS 43rd Round, Schedule 1, July 1987 - June 1988

Ceremonies are performed to solemnize some events of life, birth, annarmbha ,birthday marriage etc. Member of a household may have to perform some religious rites consequent upon the death of a person. For various religious faiths, there are some days in a year which are observed with ceremonial performances like offering puja, prayer, ritual performances etc. Such ceremonies may be performed by household members as required under the social/religious custom and not incurring expenditure for entertaining guests. On the other hand, some households may spend some amount of money for entertaining guests with meals which are considered as essential part of the ceremonies performed by them. The purpose of providing this block in this schedule is to estimate the meals served to guest on ceremonies performed by the household during the last 30 days preceding the date of enquiry as also the meals served to guests and employees (non-members only) on any other occasion( other than ceremonies). Hence, only these ceremonies on which guests were entertained with meals, should be listed here.