21 Differently-abled couples tie the knot at mass wedding, Urge people to get vaccinated & say no to dowry
Live music, dancers dressed as Lord Krishna and coy brides in a grand, decorated pandal - the scene seems straight out of a Bollywood film except that most of brides sat on wheel chairs and the grooms walked on crutches. Narayan Seva Sansthan in an attempt to help individuals who are underprivileged- organised 36th Mass wedding ceremony in Udaipur, where 21 differently-abled couples tied the knot in a grand ceremony oranised with with love and passion by Prashant Aggarwal, President, NSS.
Aggarwal ensured that the couples got everything they would need to begin a household in the right manner - from fan to utensils to bedding - everything was taken care of. The couples pledged ‘Say No To Dowry’. The campaign took place keeping in mind all covid protocol like social distancing and masking during the mass wedding ceremony.
The couples from five states got married by sending the message of wearing masks to fight the ongoing pandemic.
One of the grooms, Divyang Roshan Lal of Udaipur, who is preparing for the REET exam in Rajasthan, got married to 32-year-old Kamala Kumari in the ceremony. He said "Some lessons we learn from life are when you need very few steps forward to support and we think these few have made a huge difference to the lives of people like us. Narayan Seva Sansthan has been a pillar as it came forward and gave us the direction of life, due to which we are now moving towards a new life. I am sure I will be able to be a good teacher too someday in this life."
Prashant Agarwal who has a lot of riveting stories to tell said: “36th Divyang Mass Marriage Ceremony is an event which is very close to our hearts. As we are entering the 19th year of this flagship campaign related to this - 'Say No To Dowry' we are glad that our efforts have paid off and the organisation has so far helped 2109 couples in leading a happy and prosperous married life. Over the years we have been conducting free corrective surgeries, distribution of ration kits, measurements and operating limbs for the differently abled, conducting skill development classes and mass marriage ceremonies as well as talent development activities to empower the differently-abled.”
Manoj Kumar, a resident of Surat, Gujarat, is working in Tata Motors. He has also been operated in NSS for leg operation. Manoj says, “I am extremely happy to see how I found Sant Kumari to be the best partner in my life through the Sansthan.”
24-year-old Divyang Sant Kumari says, “The differently abled individuals want to be treated equally and justly in the society.” After marriage, she wants to start her own startup through her stitching skills. So that she can not only extend support to her husband Manoj but also financial support in life. By becoming financially independent, people with disabilities are generally accepted in the society and they get equal opportunities to move forward.
