Karachi: A one-of-its-kind mass wedding ceremony concluded on Sunday with around 60 Hindu couples tying the knot at the YMCS Lawns in Karachi, Pakistan, leaving the parents of the couples overjoyed.
Keeping in view the inability of the number of families in affording a wedding for their daughters or sons, this special ceremony was organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC).
The venue was designed in the form of a circle and within it a seating area was reserved for each couple with six seats. Young volunteers from Interfaith Harmony organisation were assigned the task of keeping a check on the relatives and ensuring that they stay close to the allotted mandap after the start of the ceremony.
"We couldn't afford the wedding expenses and were planning on a small ceremony at home," said Radha, mother of bride Laxmi.
"Seeing so many people here, especially when they stop by and ask if we need anything, means a lot. I couldn't have given my daughter that. It's more than we expected," she added, beaming.
Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Patron-in-chief PHC told that the majority of couples at the ceremony hailed from various districts and towns of Sindh, including Tharparkar, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Jam Mohammad, as well as Karachi.
"We help with arranged or love marriages only when the families are involved in every step of the decision making. Similarly, it is the same case with inter-caste marriages. We don't get involved in their personal squabbles and ensure that the process is clear to all the parties involved," he said.
Explaining the procedure of ceremony, Soniya Chandnani, one of the members of the PHC, said that one of the most important steps is the requirement of a National Identity Card of the couple along with other supporting documents “to avoid being conned since most of these girls and boys look younger than their age.” She also added that the total expense per couple was around Rs 60,000.
Each couple and their families were more than happy after the successful conclusion of the mass wedding ceremony which fulfilled their prolonged dreams.
