Steephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Feb 18: The marriage which was performed at Kanhangad recently stood out for being different, and it upheld the all-pervading human values and love for the fellow human beings that are not only noble, but also way above the religious and political enmity that is getting deep-rooted in the society of late.

This is the tale of a Hindu girl who had become an orphan at a young age after her parents breathed their last. The girl was raised by Abdulla-Khadeeja couple. They looked after the girl like their own daughter, and performed her marriage with a Hindu lad. With this, they have showed to the world that human values are the eternal and sublime truth and nothing else matters.

Rajeshwari lost her parents when she was ten years old. It was 12 years ago. Abdulla and Khadeeja took it upon themselves the task of looking after the orphaned girl. They cared for her, met all her expenses, and conducted her marriage as per Hindu traditions after finding a suitable boy. Rajeshwari's marriage was solemnized at Manyott temple with Vishnuprasad from Pudiyakota in Kanhangad. The satisfaction of having discharged their duties was writ large on the faces of Abdulla-Khadeeja couple on the day of the marriage.

Chief Tantry of the temple guided the marriage rituals. Abdulla-Khadeeja couple participated on behalf of the bride, while parents of groom, Vishnurprasad, his relatives, and well-wishers were present in good numbers.

Rajeshwari, now 22, was from Thanjavur. She had come here when she was seven years old. When she tuned ten, her mother and father passed away. Her father Sharavanan, was eking out a living by working as coolie in Kasargod and Melparamba. For some years, they had worked in the agricultural field belonging to Abdulla at Kunnariya, Kanhangad. Rajeshwari, therefore, joined the household of Abdulla. She grew up along with Abdulla's children, Shameem, Najeeb, and Sharif. She came to be known everywhere as Abdulla's daughter.

When Rajeshwari tuned 22, Abdulla thought of performing her marriage and began to search for a suitable groom who would be acceptable for Rajeshwari. The couple finally found the perfect match in Vishnuprasad, son of Balachandran-Jayanti couple from Pudiyakota, Kanhangad. Abdulla had bought saris and gold ornaments for Rajeshwari's marriage.

By performing an orphan's marriage as per the girl's wishes and as per her religious tenets, Abdulla and Khadeeja have emerged as an ideal couple who have shown that humanity, kindness, and religious tolerance are the need of the hour for citizens now and everything else does not matter.