Mass marriage in Bhubaneswar to break shackles of regressive practices

Bhubaneswar:  Like any other bride, Manaswini Behera’s happiness knew no bounds on her wedding day.

The only thing that made her marriage special was the fact that Manaswini was not alone rather she tied the knot along with 25 other girls at a mass marriage ceremony held at Ram Mandir here.

Wearing a red sari, Manaswini arrived at the venue along with 25 other girls who got married on a single day at the mass marriage ceremony organized by Prayas, a voluntary organisation.

What also made this function completely different was the fact that it tried to break the shackles of unethical practices of dowry and other regressive customs.

"I am very happy that 25 couples got married at a single venue and for me it was really special," said Manaswini.

Arya Kumar Gyanendra, president of Arya Samaj informed that it is for the last four years that Prayas organisation has been trying to arrange marriage of couples who cannot afford to spend in a grand way.

"We follow all the traditional rituals and it is indeed a privilege for us to help people and bring a change in the society," said organizer BN Patnayak.