In Pakistan Hindu couples tie the knot at mass wedding

Now a days Pakistan is doing nice work for Hindu people. A few days ago in Pakistan 60 Hindu couple from poor families tied the knot at a mass wedding. This is done by Pakistan Hindu Council, an NGO. Bore all expenses.

The couples sat in colourfully designed mandaps at the YMCA Lawn. Each couple was allowed to bring in 20 guests, and the bride was given jewellery, a bed set, quilts and blankets, a television set, an iron box, clothes and utensils, Hindu Council president Ramesh Kumar Vankhwani told The Express Tribune.

Some of the couples hailed from Karachi, while the others were from different parts of the Sindh province.

A pundit delivered instructions over the microphone, and all couples performed the rituals in unison. The couples circumambulated the fire seven times, while rituals unique to each family were held in the individual mandaps.

The members of the Rathore community made the groom carry a dagger while doing the rounds, a legacy of their kings meant to ward off evil.

Some of them said cause of poorness we could not able to marry and now when we have married, really I am feeling very happy.

Haresh and Dema found out about the wedding two days ago and had little time to prepare. "I bought my clothes a night before the wedding and had to get them stitched too," Dema said.

The couple planned to go to their village for performing other rituals with the rest of their families.

Haresh's sister-in-law said the family was planning to spend Rs. 80,000 on the wedding, but managed to save nearly Rs. 50,000.

Arrangements were made for 4,000 guests, but many more attended the event.

Mamta, an elderly woman, could not hide her excitement. "It may essentially be a cheap way to wed for the poor, but it is also good that it brings together so many people of different sects."

Pakistan Hindu and Welfare Association chairperson Mangla Sharma said the cost for each couple was Rs. 60,000-Rs. 70,000. The Hindu Council planned to arrange the marriage of at least 100 couples this year, but the community was yet to open up to the idea, she said. "However, the trend is slowly gaining ground because poor families cannot save enough to bear all the expenses," Ms. Sharma said.

The founder of Edhi Foundation, Abdul Sattar Edhi, attended the event. "I am happy to see girls from poor families being married this way," he said. He announced a donation of Rs. 5,000 for each bride.

The Council has been organising mass weddings since 2008 when 20 couples tied the knot; 45 couples got married last year. We hope that the number would exceed further next year and Pakistan Government will also help Hindu people.



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