Saptapadi, sindoor and sweets: 60 Hindu couples tie the knot in mass wedding in Karachi

The mass ceremony organised by the PHC helped parents and couples who were unable to afford separate weddings.
Published January 25, 2016

KARACHI: As 60 Hindu couples tied the knot at the YMCA Lawns on Sunday, the parents of those getting married were overjoyed.

"We couldn’t afford the wedding expenses and were planning on a small ceremony at home," said Radha, mother of bride Laxmi.

"Seeing so many people here, especially when they stop by and ask if we need anything, means a lot. I couldn’t have given my daughter that. It’s more than we expected," she added, beaming.

A groom receives a dot on his forehead with Sindoor during a mass marriage ceremony. ─ Reuters
A groom receives a dot on his forehead with Sindoor during a mass marriage ceremony. ─ Reuters

A similar story was heard by most of the families standing beside their daughters or sons, a story of being unable to afford the wedding.

As a result, they approached the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) to include their children as part of the mass wedding ceremony held annually.

Patron-in-chief PHC Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said the majority of couples at the ceremony hailed from various districts and towns of Sindh, including Tharparkar, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Jam Mohammad, as well as Karachi.

Patron of the Pakistan Hindu Council, Dr.Ramesh Vankwani, in a group photo during the mass marriage ceremony of 60 couples organised by the PHC. ─ APP
Patron of the Pakistan Hindu Council, Dr.Ramesh Vankwani, in a group photo during the mass marriage ceremony of 60 couples organised by the PHC. ─ APP

Vankwani could be seen doing rounds to check if things were in order. He shared how only couples who had gotten permission to get married were selected.

"We help with arranged or love marriages only when the families are involved in every step of the decision making. Similarly, it is the same case with inter-caste marriages. We don’t get involved in their personal squabbles and ensure that the process is clear to all the parties involved," he said.

Read more: 60 Hindu couples tie the knot at Karachi mass wedding

A bride and groom wearing traditional handmade garlands wait for their wedding to start during a mass marriage ceremony in Karachi organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council. ─ Reuters
A bride and groom wearing traditional handmade garlands wait for their wedding to start during a mass marriage ceremony in Karachi organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council. ─ Reuters
A bride and her party prepare as they wait for their wedding to start. ─ Reuters
A bride and her party prepare as they wait for their wedding to start. ─ Reuters
A groom in traditional dress waits for his wedding to start. ─ Reuters
A groom in traditional dress waits for his wedding to start. ─ Reuters
A groom signs marriage documents during a mass marriage ceremony in Karachi where a total of 60 couples from the Hindu community took wedding vows. ─ Reuters
A groom signs marriage documents during a mass marriage ceremony in Karachi where a total of 60 couples from the Hindu community took wedding vows. ─ Reuters
A bride and groom couple go through a ritual during a marriage ceremony. ─ Reuters
A bride and groom couple go through a ritual during a marriage ceremony. ─ Reuters
Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Chairman Evacuee Trust Siddiqul Farooq and Managing Director Baitul Mal Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh witness a mass marriage ceremony at the YMCA ground. ─ APP/File
Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Chairman Evacuee Trust Siddiqul Farooq and Managing Director Baitul Mal Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh witness a mass marriage ceremony at the YMCA ground. ─ APP/File