Dibrugarh, Dec 1: A mass wedding of Adivasi 21 couples took place in Dibrugarh at the initiative of a social worker who organised it to mark the wedding of his daughter.
Sudhir Kejriwal said his daughter’s marriage was fixed a year ago when the idea of such an event came to his mind.
“Some people spend extensively on weddings, many are deprived of proper marriages due to financial constraints. I’m very happy to be part of this programme,” Kejriwal said.
“This was the first time in Dibrugarh that a father had organised such a mass wedding to mark his daughter’s marriage,” said Rachana Jain, coordinator of the mass wedding.
The mass wedding at Shree Agrasen Milan Mandir, Dibrugarh was inaugurated by Dibrugarh Mayor Dr Saikat Patra and the rituals were conducted by Dharm Jagran Samanvay.
Yogesh Shastri, head of Dharm Jagran Samanvay North Assam Province, mentioned that many financially weak youth, especially in tribal communities, live in matrimonial relationships without formal marriages.
Until their marriage is formally solemnised, they remain excluded from social-religious rituals and religious places. Therefore, mass marriages are organised to formally bind such couples.
He mentioned that Dharam Jagran Samanvay North Assam Province has conducted marriages of more than 17,000 couples in the past five years. Prominent members from all sections of society were present at the mass wedding.