Simple marriage gets a boost with 'Shubharambha'

116 couples enter wedlock in mass marriage organised at temple town N'gud

As many as 116 couples tied nuptial knot at ‘Shubharambha’, a mass marriage ceremony organised by the district administration at Kalamandira on Srikanteshwara Swamy temple premises here on Sunday. 

It was a first of its kind initiative in the recent past. The district administration had organised the ceremony to promote simple marriage and bring in changes in the society.  

A host of priests, led by Nagachandra Deekshit and Saptarushi Jois of Srikanteshwara Swamy temple, along with Shashishekhar Deekshit from Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill in Mysuru performed various rituals as per the Hindu religion. The grooms tied sacred threads to brides in the auspicious ‘Abhijin’ Lagna at 11.58 am, ahead of the Muhurat fixed at 12.10 pm, amid the chanting of vedic hymns and Nadaswara.

Of 116 couples, five were specially abled and three belonged to other districts - Mandya, Hassan and Ramanagar. Each couple were presented with a Mangalasutra (sacred thread including a gold pendant), a pair of toe rings, saree and other items as per the custom.

In all, 60 couples were from scheduled caste, 19 from scheduled tribe, six inter-caste couples and 29 from other castes. The district administration spent Rs 18,000 on each couple, the officials said.

Ceremony in all districts
Revenue and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad administered oath to the newly-weds and marriage certificates were handed over to them later. Buoyed by the response, Prasad announced to organise the ceremony once in every three months.

Huge rush
A huge rush was see at the venue with more than 8,000 people, mostly including the relatives of newly-weds and the ceremony was a mega hit.

Anticipating the gathering of around 5,000, the district administration had provided entry passes to 20 people from each couple’s side. But it proved less against the milling crowd. Lunch was served to all.

Nanjangud Circle Police Inspector M C Ravi Kumar said, ‘At times, it proved very difficult to control the crowd as more than 50 per cent people had gathered outside the hall.”

The district adminstration had left no stone unturned to make the ceremony a grand success. A total of four teams, including six district-level officers, had been formed to ensure the success of the event.

Deputy commissioner C Shikha, who is also the brain behind the concept, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare, Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director Nirmala Mathapati and Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Chairman K R Mohan and Zilla Panchayat Vice President L Madappa were among the dignitaries who witnessed the ceremony.