Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Apr 30: Temple town, Dharmasthala, wore festive look on Friday April 29 on account of the annual mass marriage function arranged there. In the evening, as Vedic hymns were chanted by priests in the presence of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade at Amrutavarshini Hall, 127 pairs tied nuptial knots at the auspicious time known as 'Godhooli' period in Hindu parlance, at 6.50 pm. This happened to be the 45th annual mass marriage function being organized by Dharmasthala administration free of cost.
This time, 22 couples belonged to scheduled caste, while 19 were inter-caste marriages. A special dais was created for the marriage of Manoj A S and Divya from Chikkamagaluru, the 11,925th couple to marry here, as the bride happened to be deaf and dumb.
Heggade presented dhoti and shawls to the groom as well as sari, blouse piece and traditional nose ring to the brides in the morning. Later, the couples came in a procession and reached the venue of wedding after circumambulating the temple. The guests handed over Mangala Sutra to the brides.
The newly-married took a vow to be honest and sincere partners for life in upholding of values of righteousness, financial matters, and performance of conjugal duties, without cheating one another, and without falling prey to any vices.
After the marriage, the couples paid obeisance to the presiding deity of the temple and consumed food, before returning to their native places.
State muzrai minister, Manohar Tahsildar, who was present at the function, observed that inter-caste marriages make valuable contributions to the efforts being made to do away with the caste system. He informed that scheduled castes and tribes getting married at mass marriage ceremonies get Rs 50,000 from the government by way of asistance, scheduled caste woman marrying a person from other caste gets three lac rupees, whereas a scheduled caste male marrying girl from another caste gets two lac rupees. He said that the chief minister has earmarked grant for this purpose in the budget separately.
"The free mass marriages being organized at Dharmasthala are legally binding, as they get registered. This will help the couples to avail of facilities from the government. Several Maths, temples, and service organizations are now towing the line of Dharmasthala and organizing such programmes, the minister noted with happiness.
Former member of Indian cricket team, Brijesh Patel, MLA, K Vasant Bangera, officials of Birla company, Aditya Sarogi and Sanhtosh Menon, conveyed their best wishes to the newly wed couples.
Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade, who presided over the function, said that mass marriage is a concept of simple marriage, insisting that it would be wrong to dub this programme as a marriage of poor people. He advised those entering inter-caste marriages to claim equality and join the mainstream. He also gratefully acknowledged the encouragement being extended by Birla Welfare Trust and other donors by providing financial support every year for the mass marriages.
Hemavati V Heggade and D Harshendra Kumar were present.