600 couples tie knot at mass marriage

The event could easily be called a mega event as nearly three lakh people gathered for this event.

The mass marriage was organised under the aegis of the S Lad Educational & Charitable Trust. Last year, nearly 1,100 couples tied the knot.

This year, a host of personalities from Bollywood, Sandalwood and the political fraternity attended the event and blessed the couples.

Actors Jackie Shroff, Sohail Khan, Jimmy Shergill, Meghana Naidu, Sameera Reddy, Kim Sharma, film director and producer Subhash Ghai, Tamil film director S Ganeshan, Kannada actors Murali, Sharmila Mandre and B C Patil, and many others added glamour to the event.

Political leaders including former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh, former Union minister Oscar Fernandes, Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Veeranna Matthikatti, former MPs Manjunath Kunnnur and I G Sanadi, former MLC Jabbarkhan Honalli, MLCs Basavaraj Horatti and Srinivas Mane were also present.

The couples were presented with a pair of toe rings, mangalsutra, dresses and others items. The pavilion for the mass marriage itself cost a whopping Rs two crore. The whole of Kalghatagi town was decked up with flowers and hoardings to welcome the visitors.

The marriage feast was prepared for more than three lakh people and included typical North Karnataka delicacies.