A conscious citizen preferred to curb wasteful expenditure in marriage and performed his son’s wedding function with austerity. There was no dowry, no bursting of crackers, no procession and no music. Also, no gifts were received whereas the man contributed `48,534 to the Army Welfare Fund for development of the armed force.
Basudev, a lawyer by profession and a social activist, hails from Sipi village on the outskirts of Jagatsinghpur, who solemnized the marriage of his son Biplav lennin, a professional, with Subhashree Panda, a resident of Derabish area under Kendrapada district a week ago.
With simple blowing of conch, the priest performed the marriage in adherence to strict Hindu traditions. The groom party refused to accept any gift in cash or kind.
No gold ornaments at marriage were also transacted between the two families.
The bride family offered a simple launch to the groom’s party.
“I feel all these are unethical practices that should be done away with. As my son’s marriage negotiation was held two months back, a condition was set that no dowry would be given and no wasteful expenditure be made. Finally, the proposal was honoured,” Basudev revealed.
“We want to stop the unfriendly exercise and to sensitize the youth mass against dowry and wasteful marriage expenditure,” informed groom Biplav and bride Subhashree.
Basudev too set another precedent during his son’s reception feast offered at his residence.
He threw a simple dinner for over 10,000 guests and urged every one not to pay any gift or money. And after completion of the feast, when Basudev discovered an amount Rs 48, 435 given by the guests, he deposited the money in the account of Army Welfare Fund in the local Syndicate Bank on January 27.