Beltangady: Dharmasthala Turns into Marriage Hall as 189 Couple Tie Knot

Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (GA)

Beltangady, May 4: It was a perfect evening and it was as if all the roads were leading to Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala.  People thronged in thousands to be witnesses to yet another great humanitarian service rendered by this place where God dwells through works of love and charity.

The annual mass marriage ceremony of Dharmasthala which have gained so much popularity over the years eversince 1972 were held on Friday May 4 evening in the auspicious Godhooli muhurtam at 7.55 pm.  It was the 36th consecutive mass marriage ceremony organized at Dharmasthala and 171 couples coming from all over entered the sacred bond of marriage.

The atmosphere was such that it was as if entire Dharmasthala had turned into a marriage hall.  The glittering faces of the bride and the groom, broad smiles on the faces of their near and dear ones were the indications of how happy were they to unite in matrimony in this place.

Just like every year though the number of couples was more, the ceremony was carefully and meticulously arranged while giving utmost importance to simple celebration.  While the groom was presented with marriage dress, the bride was decked with sari, bangles and mangalsutra.  Along with this relatives of the couple were served a simple yet delicious dinner. 

In 1972 Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala introduced the beautiful concept of ‘mass marriage’ at Dharmasthala. Following the tradition of the Kshetra where all religions and castes are welcomed, hundreds of couples have married in accordance with their personal religious rites. The expenses for the wedding dress, mangalsutra and wedding feast for a limited number of couple’s guests were all borne by the Kshetra. Today this event has become an annual feature at Dharmasthala with hundreds of couples being joined in wedlock on each occasion. This has helped the eradication of social evils like dowry, casteism, untouchability and financial debt.

The concept introduced at Dharmasthala has become popular today everywhere. Various associations and organizations from different religions are taking lead in organizing mass marriage within their community.  When it comes to Dharmasthala there have been ample examples that many a times the children of the couple who had entered wedlock in mass marriage at Dharmasthala too have preferred to walk in the footprints of their parents and get married during mass marriage, thus setting an example for simple and non-luxurious marriage even in this modern era.