An integral part of most Tamil weddings is “Moi”—the cash gift or something in kind given to a couple. And the donor’s name and the amount are entered on a ledger and entries are announced over the tannoy. How much “Moi” one gives is something the donor-relative proudly wears on his sleeve in the hope it gets reciprocated when he hosts a similar function. A wrong ledger entry can result in disputes, sometimes fisticuffs. The bookkeeper handling the cash—usually a relative—remains under pressure. But digital technology has ensured that no cash changes hands and the money gets credited directly to the couple’s account.
When Sivasankari and Saravanan got married in Madurai on January 17, their ‘Moi’ was collected through digital payments—PhonePe and G-Pay. Not only did the couple print the QR codes on their wedding invitation, they also displayed the barcodes prominently on a table used for “Moi’ collection. They got to know instantly how much money a relative has gifted through an SMS, which also confirmed the transaction. “The QR code ensured that even those who could not attend the wedding due to pandemic restrictions could send their cash gifts without hassle. We think this is the way gifting will happen in future weddings,” says Saravanan, a civil engineer.
By G.C. Shekhar in Chennai
