KARACHI: Eighty couples tied the knot during the 13th mass wedding ceremony organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council here on Sunday evening.

Of the 80 couples, 14 were from Karachi while the remaining were from other different districts of the province.

Joy was writ large on the faces of brides and their well-dressed grooms escorted by equally excited parents, relatives and friends.

The venue, extensively decorated to mark the occasion, was almost pack to capacity with many guests representing Muslim and Christian communities came to see the rituals. A large number of community members reached the venue from different cities and towns.

“We are here to extend our best wishes to the newly-weds,” said Ahmed Ali, a neighbour of bridegroom Preetam, a resident of Ranchhore Line.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said that the idea was to help couples who were unable to arrange by themselves the ceremony involving extensive rituals due to resource constraints.

“The most righteous act is to help couples who cannot afford extravagant ceremonies required to tie the knot,” he said, mentioning that like any other religion marriage was an essential pillar of the Hindu family system.

According to the MNA, a clear message is also communicated to the international community that the Hindus in Pakistan had equal religious, social and political rights as any other community. Referring to the active participation of members from other communities in the ceremony, he said this also demonstrated that a vast majority of Pakistanis believed in the principles of tolerance and interfaith harmony.

Pakistan Hindu Council president Gopal Kamuani said the organisation was actively engaged in uplift of the Sindh-based community and that mass wedding, over the years, had assumed tremendous importance.

“It is largely the parents of the would-be couples who approach us for the arrangement,” he said. “Their applications are thoroughly scrutinised ensuring age of the would-be couples as well their status so that only those deserved could be entertained.”

Crockery, electronic items, bedroom accessories, jewellery, cash and other items of daily use were also put on display. Community members on the occasion also acknowledged assistance by different organisations and individuals for the much-cherished cause.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2020