Over 3000 nuptial knots tied with Vedic chantings and melodies of ‘Shahnai’

Central Chronicle News
Raipur, Feb 27: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday attended Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivaah Samaroh (mass marriage programme) organized at Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium Complex in capital city Raipur here. Amid the melodious sound of shehnai and the Vedic chanting, 3 thousand 229 couples tied nuptial knots in the mass marriage programme. Chief Minister Baghel extended blessings to all the newly-weds and gave best wishes for their married life. For the first time in Chhattisgarh, mass wedding ceremonies were organized simultaneously organized in 22 districts, under this scheme. All the districts participated in the function organized at capital Raipur through video conferencing.
In the ceremony held at Raipur, 233 couples got married, including three Christians and a Muslim couple, who were married as per their religious customs. At the ceremony, Chief Minister symbolically gave away gifts and cheques of financial aid Rs one thousand to five newly-wed couples. On this occasion, many couples captured this memorable moment by taking a selfie with Chief Minister. Chief Minister felicited Kamlesh Chopra of Raipur for providing utensils to brides and bridegrooms in mass marriages, and honoured Ankit Gandhi with a memento for providing hand watches and for public cooperation. This mass marriage of three thousand 229 couples organized by Women and Child Development Department in 22 districts has been recorded in the Golden Book of World Records. It was announced by Mrs. Sonal Rajesh Sharma on behalf of the Golden Book of World Records.
While blessing the newly married couples, Chief Minister Baghel said that on the auspicious occasion of Maghi Punni, the bride and groom tied the nuptial knots. It is our privilege to have the opportunity to become both ‘Barati’ and ‘Gharati’ simultaneously. There is no greater virtue than ‘Kanyadaan’, and it has way more significane when done on the day of Maghi Punni. Baghel said that people are fed up with the wasteful expenditure in weddings. There is also a lot of wastage of means over time. By joining in the mass marriage, the bride and groom along with parents have taken a new step, and I congratulate them for their noble step. Now, along with the state government, mass marriages are being organized in many societies, which is a commendable step. Chief Minister said that under Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivaah Yojana, there was a provision of Rs 15 thousand earlier, which has been increased to Rs 25 thousand. Now a large number of tribal people along with people of various castes, religions are joining in mass marriages. Addressing the program, Women and Child Development Minister Bhendia said that under this scheme, state government increased the amount of provisioned financial aid from Rs 10 thousand to Rs 25 thousand, similarly, the incentive for marriage for Divyang couples has also been increased from Rs 50 thousand to Rs one lakh. She also wished the newly married couples a happy new life.
Secretary of Women and Child Development Shehla Nigar informed that under Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivaah Yojana, target to conduct 7 thousand 600 marriages this year has been set. In this ceremony, a girl from Nari Niketan Raipur got married and joined the mainstream of the society. In view of COVID-19 transition, 22 districts connected via virtual mode.