Mass Wedding In Songhad_આદિવાસી સમૂહ લગ્ન

Samuh Lagna (Mass wedding) on 27-3-2011 at SHAKTI, Songadh in South Gujarat.

“It is very encouraging to see 41 couples participating in the mass wedding. Last year it was 29 and this year 12 more. We must make efforts to reduce our expenses on such events and save that money for the education of our children” told Tusharbhai Chaudhary, the State Minister of Road and Transport, Government of India. In her inimitable style, Induben Gamit, a woman leader from Vyara advised the new couples to be faithful to each other, support one another in all circumstances and to uphold the sanctity of marriage”. The crowd cheered her very much.

The marriage procession started at 10.30 am from Raj Hotel. Because of the huge crowd carrying their beloved bride grooms on their shoulders and dancing with their beloved ones, the traffic at the National High Way No. 6 came to a halt for some time. At the entrance of the wedding gate, the bride grooms were welcomed by women as per Adivasi customs.

Once the bride grooms were seated in the mandap, then the brides came to the mandap. The function started with singing of “Adivasi gauvrav geet” (adivasi song) followed by taking an oath to be faithful to adivasi community. Then the organizars welcomed them with flowers. After that the distinguished guests were also welcomed. Knatibhai Gamit, the BJP President of Tapi District was also present. He also joined the procession and danced with the crowd. After this, the cultural team of SHAKTI-LAHRC put up a skit to help the new couples understand the importance of marriage and the joy of supporting each other throughout life. This was well appreciated by the crowd.

Then three elders – one from Vasava, another from Gamit and a third one from Chaudhary groups performed the marriage rite as per adivasi traditions. During the ceremony, the couples exchanged garlands and the bride grooms put the mangal sutra (the holy symbol of bond) on the brides. Then the whole crowd clapped hands in appreciation and shouted some slogans to encourage and support them.

After this, some elders came forward to bless them. They received the marriage certificates from the hands of the Minister. The new couples were given 14 types of useful gifts. Then the list of all those who had donated both in cash and kind was read out in public. The same list was also exhibited for the public. Then from the newly wedded couples, one bride and one bride groom came forward to thank all and specially the organizers for taking the trouble of organizing this mass wedding. Santoshbhai Gamit-the bride groom said, “If my parents had to get me married, they would have to spend at least Rs. 50,000/-, leave alone the expenses of the bride. By joining this mass wedding, I could boldly say that each couple has saved at least Rs. One lakh which means the organizers have helped us to save today at least Rs. 41 lakhs. We thank them for it”.

The function ended by singing the National Anthem. Then all the 4,500 people enjoyed the wedding meal and left home with a lot of joy on their faces.

It was organize by Adivasi Mahamandal Charitable trust- Gujarat, Adivasi Sarvangi Vikas Sanghs (Pos) and SHAKTI-LAHRC, Songadh.

- Report By Fr. J. Stanny SJ, Songhad.

Jai Adivasi, Jago Adivasi.

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SHAKTI-LAHRC

P.B. No.- 19,Nr. RTO Check Post, Vankvel, Songadh-394 670, Dist Tapi, Gujarat.

Ph- 02624- 221074, 221076

web: www.shaktilahrc.org