The Allah Hajrat Welfare Committee of Sambalpur district on Sunday organised a mass marriage ceremony for 17 pairs of boys and girls to help poor parents for decent marriages of their children.
This was the seventh time that the committee hosted such a programme. However, the uniqueness this year was inclusion of Hindu boys and girls. The district Sub-Registrar-cum-Marriage Registration Officer registered all the four Hindu couples as per the Hindu marriage Act.
“In coming years, we will include more boys and girls from all religions. We will also try to reach rural areas in search of poor bride and grooms instead of concentrating in urban area only,” said Atif Alam, an organiser of the mass marriage. Besides, 13 Muslim couples married as per the tradition of their religion in the presence of the Maulabi.
The organisers gifted all couples house construction materials worth Rs two lakh each. “But TV is not there in the list of the gifts as it is against our ethics,” said Sahisha Parwin, an organiser.
Former local MLA Dr Raseswari Panigrahi, poet Hussain Rabi Gandhi, farmer leader Debendra Pradhan and representatives of all religions and communities were guests on the occasion. “When the country is burning due to religious issues, the efforts of the Allah Hajrat Welfare Committee is laudable,” said Dr Panigrahi.