Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Pics: Janani Dharmasthala
Beltangady, May 1: Dharmasthala wore a festive look on Thursday April 30 on account of mass marriages held there. At the pre-decided time of 5.58 pm on April 30, which happened to be Godhooli Lagnam moment as per Hindu calendar, 143 couples tied nuptial knots and entered wedded life.
Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade, presented saris and blouse pieces to the brides-to-be and Dhoti and shawls to the would-be grooms, at his residence on Thursday morning. In the evening, the couples formed part of a grand procession which circumambulated the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and proceeded to Amritavarshini Hall.
At this hall, different wedding pandals had been erected for holding marriage rituals in tune with the castes to which the couples belonged. Religious ceremonies were thereafter conducted, followed by the distribution of 'Mangalasutra' by Dr Heggade and dignitary guests.
The mass marriage was solemnized at 5.58 pm. Among the couples, 23 were inter-caste marriages, while 26 couples belonged to scheduled communities. The couples took a vow that they will ever stay loyal and committed to each other after having married in the presence of Lord Manjunatha and Dr Heggade, and will be true partners of their spouses in righteous activities, finances, conjugal obligations etc, and not to be addicted to any vices.
Principal secretary in the department of backward classes welfare, Shalini Rajaneesh, speaking after blessing the newlyweds, said that the couples are being given Rs 50,000 in case of inter-caste marriages, and one lac rupees in the case of couples belonging to scheduled castes on behalf of the government. She said that the intention of the government in extending this benefit is to remove caste and religion-based discrimination in the society, as well as bringing in equality and social harmony. She added that the aim of conducting caste-based census is also to achieve this specific objective.
She advised the young couples to lead an ideal life by following principles of good conduct and ideal behaviour, and to shape their children as fine citizens of the country. 'We should dream high about our future and work towards exalted achievements, and to contribute to the society in the way we can', she told them. She also spoke highly of the social service initiatives of Dr Heggade.
Sudhir Jain from Satna, and local MLA, K Vasant Bangera, extended best wishes to the couples.
Dr D Veerendra Heggade, addressing the participants, noted that marriage is an occasion that is of high importance, joy, and celebration, in one's life. He stressed that marriages should remain simple, and extravagant expenditure in the name of customs should be avoided. He asked the people to make best use of facilities provided by the government and come up in life. Heggade also told the couples not to be victims of any wrong habits, never to give rise to differences between them, lead an ideal life with responsibility, and not to resort to divorce in any case.
Hemavati V Heggade, Asha Mangaluru, D Harshendra Kumar, Supriya Harshendra Kumar, Rashmi Jain, and child development project officer, Puttaswamy, were present.
Nepal earthquake: Dharmasthala announces Rs one crore relief
Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade, announced at Dharmasthala that on behalf of Dharmasthala establishment, help to the tune of one crore rupees would be extended to the people distressed by the recent earthquake which shattered Nepal. He said on Thursday April 30 that this aid would be extended in kind.
This aid will be in the form of rice and mobile surgery unit, he added.
Under the leadership of Dr Heggade, a two-minute silent prayer was offered at Amritavarshini Hall at Dharmasthala, offering prayers to the Lord, seeking to mitigate hardships, pain, and grief of the people who were adversely affected by the earthquake.