The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Gaiety marks ‘vivah mahotsav’

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Monday, May 12, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Gaiety marks ‘vivah mahotsav’

Special Correspondent

Twenty five economically poor couples tie the knot

-PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

Wedding bells: A newly married couple at the ‘vivah mahotsav’ on Sunday.

Hyderabad: With his modest salary, Ramdev Singh, couldn’t think of marrying off his son. A security guard by profession, his earnings were barely sufficient to keep the wolf away. But on Sunday he was the happiest man as his son, Dalbir Singh, got married.

Ramdev Singh was not the only pleased parent. There were many more who were in high spirits as their wards entered into wedlock at the ‘Samuhik vivah mahotsav’ at Gurduwara Saheb Baram Bala Sikh Chawniat, Kishanbagh.

The mass marriage ceremony saw 25 economically poor couples tie the nuptial knot at a grand ceremony. More than 20,000 members of the Sikh community turned up to witness the event.

It was the fourth consecutive year that mass marriages was being performed by the Gurudwaras in the city by turns.

The entire expenditure was picked up by the Prabhandak committee Gurudwara Saheb Barambala.

Some of the couples came as far away as Aurangabad, Nanded, Nizambad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Bidar. There was a carnival like ambience at the Gurudwara right from Saturday as the ‘sagai’ and ‘mehandi’ ceremonies took place. Today attired in colourful clothes, the bridegrooms came astride horses in a ‘baraat’.

Later the couples did ‘lawan phere’, the most important part of the ceremony by taking four rounds of the Guru Granth Saheb.

The ‘Granthis’ (head priests) from various Gurudwaras recited words from the holy scripture solemnising the marriage.

Baba Ram Singhji of Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, was present on the occasion.

The couples were later presented ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) and gifts.

Household articles were also presented to the newly weds by relatives and various Gurudwara committees. The marriage over, a sumptuous lunch was arranged for the gathering.

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