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Ujjain admin plays cupid for special couples; mass marriage ceremony sets records

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Sravani Sarkar

NewsBits.in

Ujjain: Kanha Parisar on Indore Road in the city buzzed with hectic activities on March 6 and 7. After all, it was venue for not one but 101 marriages. And more importantly, the couples who tied the knot at the ceremony organized by the Ujjain district administration were ‘special’.

The district administration, supported by prominent local citizens, played cupid as well as guardians and in the process created two records as it hosted the biggest mass marriage ceremony for disabled couples in the country.

Apart from the largest number of disabled couples being married off in a single ceremony, the Ujjain district administration also notched up a record of preparing the largest overall gift hamper for the newly married couples. The Asian Golden Book of Records authorities presented certificates in this regard to the administration.

The barriers of religion, caste and social status blurred as all the couples were treated in the same way during the ceremony. They were all given similar gifts and benefit of different government welfare schemes.

“It is a real special occasion as special couples were married with support from the society. The ceremony has been in fact hosted by large-hearted people of Ujjain and we did the arrangements,” Sanket Bhondwe, district collector of Ujjain said while talking to NewsBits.in.

Union social justice minister Thawachand Gehlot, MP Chintamani Malviya and Satyanarayan Jatia, State minister Paras Jain, MLA Mohan Yadav, mayor Meena Jonwal and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.

Of the couples married off, 77 were Hindus, 26 Muslims and one Sikh couple. Half of the couples are residents of Ujjain, while others are from outside. Five couples went in for inter-caste marriages. In case of 25 couples, one of them is not disabled yet selected disabled life partners.

Eligible couples would be getting houses under PM Housing Scheme, toilets have been ensured at homes of each of them. They would get domestic gas connections under PM Ujjwala Scheme, have been insured under PM Insurance Schemes, free treatment under chief minister’s discretionary scheme, e-marriage certificate, Rupay debit card and plastic Aadhar card.

All the rituals like haldi, mehendi and others were done on Monday (March 6) enthusiastically in presence of district officials while the marriages were solemnized on Tuesday. The local police band provided the musical backdrop to the unique event.

SILENT BUT EFFECTIVE MESSAGE

Speech and hearing impaired couple Nutan and Rakesh gave out message in sign language, saying their parents could not have made such elaborate and traditional arrangements for their marriage and they are very happy to be part of the mass ceremony.