SOCIETY

Mass marriage ceremony of Hindu and Muslim couples in UP

     Hathras (UP): Hundreds witnessed a mass marriage ceremony of 12 couples in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Saturday. The couples came from different parts of the state to tie the knot. The ceremony was preceded by a grand marriage procession accompanied by top bands of the city and flower-bedecked cars. The marriage, organised by a voluntary organisation, was a rare event as two Muslim couples were among those married in a newly constructed temple. Mohammad Ghani Khan, a guest at the wedding, said: "We don't feel any difference between the Hindus and the Muslims here. It's great to be here." Avdhesh Kumar Singh, organiser of the event, said the mass marriage was a symbol of communal harmony. "Twelve girls are getting married here and two of them are Muslims. They will be married in their traditional manner. We don't believe in communal differences. We all live in peace here," he said. The organisers presented gifts to the newly married couples, including blankets, garments and kitchen utensils. The couples said they were impressed by the arrangements made by the society. They urged the society to undertake similar types of programmes in future, for creating awareness among the youth against the dowry system. Organisers said they had conducted more than sixty marriages so far.
-Feb 20, 2005

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