The idea to solemnise the mass marriage of poor girls came about after 2014 devastating floods
Thanks to Jafri Council of Jammu and Kashmir, more than 105 couples tied the nuptial knot in the biggest ever mass marriage ceremony in Srinagar on Sunday. Dressed in red bridal trousseau, most of the girls were orphans or from underprivileged families of North Kashmir.
"People in the villages and far-off areas live in abject poverty. Due to financial problems parents are unable to marry off their daughters. Therefore, we decided to take the plunge and help these girls start a new life," said Haji Musadiq Hussain Manhas, chairman of Jafri Council of Jammu and Kashmir, an NGO working for the uplift of the underprivileged.
A study conducted by the sociology department at University of Kashmir in 2009 revealed shocking facts about the fallout of twenty-seven years of conflict and bloodbath. According to the study, 88 per cent of respondents said that conflict situation in Kashmir has contributed to late marriages, a phenomenon unheard of before.
The idea to solemnise the mass marriage of poor girls came about after 2014 devastating floods. "When we were distributing relief in the Nowgam area, we came across eight such people whose marriage was just few days away and they lost everything in the floods. Later, we started this exercise and 38 couples were married off in 2015. The following year, 70 couples tied knot and last year 75 couples did so," said Manhas.
However, 2018 saw the biggest congregation. "We give choice to the couples to solemnise Nikah in the ceremony or produce Nikanamas. This time Nikah ceremony was held for 65 couples by our Moulanas. Rest of the couples produced the Nikanamas. We also gifted 70 items to each girl. From kitchen items to bedding, we present everything except gold and copperwares," said Manhas.
For the girls, it was an emotional moment as they were finally getting married. "There are girls who have crossed the marriageable age because they are poor and cannot afford dowry. I want to compliment the organisers for helping the girls like me to marry," said one of the brides.
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