Wedding bells chimed in perfect sync with the Olympic Games theme song as China's obsession with the number eight found unprecedented and different expressions here today. Soon after Beijing bagged the hosting rights to host the greatest extravaganza on earth, organisers decided it had to start at 08:08:08 p.
M on the 8/8/2008 because the number eight is considered lucky in this land of million customs. Incidentally, those seeking to tie the knot also could not let go the auspicious moment as they made a beeline in the marriage registration office, seeking to enter the wedlock today.
For the Chinese, eight in Mandarin is 'ba', which sounds like 'fa' or prosperity, thus triggering a craze to get that lucky date on marriage certificates. According to estimates, nearly 16,500 couple tied the knot in the capital only while the administration has been flooded with requests from Shanghai, Guanzhou, Qinhuangdao and Zhengzhou as well to get married.
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