Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (GA)

Beltangady, Feb 24: The annual mass marriages at Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala near here will be held on Friday May 4.  The marriages will be held in the auspicious Vrishchika muhurtam at 7.53. This is for the 36 year that mass marriages are being held at Dharmasthala.

While the bride will be presented with a shawl and dhoti, groom will be given sari, blouse and mangalsutra from Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala.  The mass marriages at Dharmasthala are widely known and hailed by all. 

These were initiated by Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade in the year 1972 with a view to make marriages simple cutting the lavish expenses.  The genuine idea of helping poor families who could not spend lavishly on weddings too was another reason why mass marriages came to prominence.  Over the years a total of 10163 couples have tied knots at Dharmasthala.

Taking a cue from Dharmasthala, mass marriages are now introduced in other places too.  The minority communities which too are not far behind in spending lavishly at marriages are now going for mass marriages.  While Catholic Sabha is organizing mass marriages at Our Lady of Rosary Church at Mangalore every year, various Muslim organizations too are organizing mass marriages in the recent times.

Those who would like to register their names of the mass marriages at Dharmasthala are requested to contact the office by April 30, 2007.