Story of two orphaned girls for whom wedding bells tolled!

Bhubaneswar: Once upon a time there were these two girls whom destiny named orphans as they had no clue about their parents, caste, or creed. It’s the same destiny that has now given the two girls families who welcomed them as their daughters in law. Barsha and Bharati, inmates of Pallishree Kanyashram in Korua area of Kendrapara district, recently tied the nuptial knots in a grand wedding ceremony.

Marrying the two girls were Alok Panda of Bangari village and Bijay Mahapatra of Palda village in Nemal area in the district. Both the grooms reached the marriage destination in grand processions and the marriages were solemnized in Vedic tradition with consent of their families.

The grooms however reportedly refused in gifts in the form of dowry. Even the Ashram members and administration extended help in solemnizing the marriages. A wedding feast was also organized for the guests.

Chief of the Pallishree Kanyashram, Srikant Nayak said, “The two girls who stayed here had no idea about their caste, religion, birth and other information but these were never the criteria for both being readily adopted by two local Brahmin families. Our organization also cooperated in making the rituals successful.”

“I grew up here from childhood and am happy that even though I did not have parents, I received so much love and affection from the ashram which is no less than a huge family of elders and young ones. I am happy but I feel sad as I have to leave the shelter home and its members and go to my in-laws,” said one of the newly-wed girls.

Kanaka Lata Behera, Councillor of District Child Welfare Committee said, “The people who don’t have anyone have divine support. It is a matter of great happiness and I wish them happy married life.”