19 couples tie nuptial knot in Punjab

Nineteen couples, belonging to the economically weaker sections of society, tied the nuptial knot at a mass marriage ceremony at the Tapiana Sahib Gurudwara in Khadoor Sahib area, about 40 kilometres from Amritsar.

By Savinder Singh

Khadoor Sahib (Punjab), July 14 : Nineteen couples, belonging to the economically weaker sections of society, tied the nuptial knot at a mass marriage ceremony at the Tapiana Sahib Gurudwara in Khadoor Sahib area, about 40 kilometres from Amritsar.

The marriage ceremony was organised by a Sikh body.

Lakhwinder Singh, one of the organisers of the marriage ceremony, said that only poor and orphaned people were selected, and they would be provided with both furniture and household items to facilitate the process of setting up their homes.

Both grooms and brides, attired in traditional clothes, participated in the ceremony, which was conducted as per Sikh rites.

A community feast, or 'Langar', was also organised on the occasion.Baljeet Singh, the relative of one of the orphaned brides said the ceremony helped them in a big way. "This is a very good thing that they are doing to help the poor girls," he said. In Indian society, the bride's parents usually pay huge amounts of money as dowry to the bridegroom in acceptance of marriage, which is driving many needful and poor families to opt for simple and affordable ceremonies.

Group marriages are becoming very popular, especially among the poor, as it eases a huge financial burden.

Several organisations are now campaigning against high-cost marriages and the social evil of dowry.

ANI