41 Hindu couples tie knot in Pakistan

Pakistan Hindu Council has organised a mass wedding, where more than 40 Hindu couples have got married in traditional way.

Source: http://www.mynews.in

41 Hindu couples tie the knot
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
By Rabia Ali

While Pooja and Deepak nervously held each other’s hands, and slowly took the wedding ‘Pheras’ at the YMCA Lawns, 41 other couples also performed the ritual at their respective Mandaps, in the biggest Hindu mass wedding in the city.

The event, where poor Hindu couples were married for free, was organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council. The enormous lush green YMCA lawn was transformed into a group of Mandaps for the couples; each Mandap was decorated with garlands and draped in purple and yellow. Inside, sat the brides dressed in red Saris, and the grooms in golden Sherwanis. Some of the grooms carried traditional swords.

Ach couple was allowed 10 guests, who accompanied them inside the Mandap. In front of the couples sat tables full of things for the wedding Pooja, including a coconut mounted on the Kalash, Jal, flowers, rice, almonds, Supari, incense sticks, earthen pots, and fire logs.

“This is second mass-wedding that we have organised. Last year, 20 couples were married at the Swami Narayan Temple. This year, we were told not to have more than 44 couples,” Pakistan Hindu Council Patron Ramesh Kumar told The News. “DIG Ghulam Nabi Memon helped the council in providing security for the wedding.”

Kumar also said that this time that couples from Interior Sindh were also selected for the ceremony.

In one of the Mandaps, a groom, Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Ranchore Line, was extremely delighted by the arrangements and said that the Moorat was a blessed one for all the couples. His face radiated with happiness, and he excitedly said, “I had decided a long time ago, that I would get married under a blessed Moorat, which comes only once a year.” His nervous bride, 19-year-old Rakhi, said that the mass-wedding was a good way to disperse all unnecessary and irrelevant expenditures that burden a family. “I am grateful and thankful to the council for helping us celebrate the biggest moment of our lives,” she said.

Some 5,000 guests were seated between the Mandaps. Meanwhile, two Maharajs, Jay Kumar and Ravi Mahraj, seated on the centre stage recited verses and guided the couples, their families and the volunteers present in each Mandap.

The one-and-a-half-hour ceremony started with the recitals, along with praises to the Hindu Gods, followed by the Varun Pooja and Ganesh Pooja. At the end, much to the audience’s surprise, the Mahraj called for only four Pheras. “There are only four pheras in the Hindu religion and not seven. People mistake the seven Wachans, meaning seven vows for the Pheras,” he said.

The event was attended by the former chief justice of Pakistan, Rana Bhagwandas, Advisor to Chief Minister Sharmila Farooqi, and other notable personalities, including Mirza Ikhtiar Baig and Jahangeer Siddiqi. The guests gave away shawls and copies of the Gita, along with other presents, to the couples and wished them good luck.

Mangla Sharma, coordinator of the Women’s Wing of the Pakistan Hindu Council told The News that all expenses for the event were borne by the council; the cost of each couple’s wedding was approximately Rs70,000. “We paid for everything, including the dowry, which consists of bedroom sets, bridal dresses, and other appliances and utensils. Similarly, the couple did not have to spend a single rupee on food or decorations. We are happy that all the money was collected by the Hindu community and other individuals, and no financial support or help was asked from the government,” Sharma said.

A newly-married couple, Lakhshmi and Kishore, who had come from all the way from Thatta said that this was an extremely happy moment for them. ‘We had been in love for a long time, and now our dream has come true, because we have celebrated our happiness with so many other couples,’ they said.

Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk

41 Hindu couples tie the knot in Pakistan

Karachi, Nov 10 - Over 40 Hindu couples have got married at a mass wedding here. The event was organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council.

Council patron Ramesh Kumar told The News: "This is second mass wedding that we have organised. Last year, 20 couples were married at the Swami Narayan Temple. This year, we were told not to have more than 44 couples."

The 41 couples were married for free at the flower decorated venue.

The brides were dressed in red saris and the grooms wore golden sherwanis. Some of the grooms carried traditional swords. Each couple was allowed 10 guests.

Mukesh Kumar, a groom, said: "I had decided a long time ago that I would get married at a blessed mahurat (auspicious time), which comes only once a year."

His nervous bride, 19-year-old Rakhi, said that the mass wedding was a good way to dispense with all unnecessary and irrelevant expenditures that burden a family.

"I am grateful and thankful to the council for helping us celebrate the biggest moment of our lives," she said.

Former chief justice of Pakistan, Rana Bhagwandas was present on the occasion.

Mangla Sharma, coordinator of the women's wing of the council, said the cost for each couple's wedding was approximately Rs. 70,000.

Sharma said: "We paid for everything, including the dowry, which consists of bedroom sets, bridal dresses, and other appliances and utensils. Similarly, the couple did not have to spend a single rupee on food or decorations. We are happy that all the money was collected by the Hindu community and other individuals, and no financial support or help was sought from the government." (IANS)

Source: http://www.topnews.in

Pakistan’s 42 Hindu couples tie the knot

After the success of the first Hindu mass wedding in Karachi last year, 42 couples came together from different parts of Sindh to tie the knot this year. While most of them belonged to Karachi, couples came from as far as Nawabshah, Daharki, Dighri, Thatta, and Hyderabad among other districts of Sindh. The event was organised by Pakistan Hindu Council at the YMCA ground on Sunday evening and all the expenses were borne by the council members to help the less privileged members of their community. (Text: Aroosa Masroor Photos: Tahir Jamal/ White Star)
Twenty-two year old Prem Kumar and his 18-year old wife, Pyari, who was also his cousin, came from Qazi Aman in Nawabshah along with three other couples from their family.

‘We read about the mass wedding in a local paper in Nawabshah. There were quite a few couples in our family who had been engaged so we thought of bringing them all here as it would reduce our expenses to a great extent,’ said the groom’s uncle, Puran Das.

Since the bride and groom’s family were instructed to invite only 10 guests each, Das said by registering four couples they were able to bring 80 of their close relatives with them to Karachi.

A wedding in Nawabshah would have normally cost them over Rs100,000, but purchasing bus tickets for the entire baraat only cost them Rs20, 000.

Apart from the bride and groom’s clothes, the families did not have to spend a single paisa on anything.

From the wedding meal to the bride’s jewellery and dowry, the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) made all the arrangements. ‘We're giving them a bedroom set, television, some kitchen utensils, washing machine and jewellery. Gold is quite expensive these days, so we have bought silver jewellery for all the brides instead,’ disclosed former MPA Dr Ramesh Kumar and patron PHC.

There were 44 mandaps arranged on either side of the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) lawn, while the guests – approximately 2,000 in number – were seated in the center. Two couples, however, could not make it to the wedding.

The pundit (priest) spoke through a microphone and the bride and groom followed his instructions with the help of volunteers from the community. Over 30 volunteers were present to assist the families.

Some grooms were also made to hold a sword before the four rounds or pheras began, which is merely symbolic. ‘In the Meghwar community, the groom is considered no less than a prince,’ informed Bhagwati.

Another groom, Mukesh Kumar, who belonged to Karachi, was here to avoid family feuds. ‘We belong to the Meghwar community and are expected to invited all our community members,’ Mukesh’s sister, Bhagwati, told Dawn.com.

‘But my brother is a driver by profession and earns only Rs5, 000 a month. We couldn’t afford a lavish wedding so decided to register here. Only close relatives were invited. This way we won’t have to listen to everyone’s complaints.’

The mass wedding also provided an opportunity for various communities to interact and look for prospective brides and grooms.

‘I am here to look for a girl for my brother,’ said one.

Among the communities present were Gujrati, Marwari, Meghwar, Kohli and Lalwani, who are mostly less privileged among the Hindus in Pakistan.

Tight security arrangements were made at the lawn entrance and all the guests – especially those from outside Karachi – were thoroughly checked by security officials.

‘We were asked to be seated by 5:00pm and the wedding started at 8:00pm! Such events are tiring especially for guests who travel hundreds of kilometres only not to offend the host,’ said one guest, Ajini.

Some politicians including Mirza Ikhtiar Baig of the PPP and Advisor to CM Sindh Sharmila Farooqi were also present to bless the couples on the occasion.

Source: http://www.dawn.com

41 Hindu couples tie the knot in Pakistan
Karachi, Nov 10 (IANS) Over 40 Hindu couples have got married at a mass wedding here. The event was organised by the Pakistan Hindu Council.
Council patron Ramesh Kumar told The News: “This is second mass wedding that we have organised. Last year, 20 couples were married at the Swami Narayan Temple. This year, we were told not to have more than 44 couples.”

The 41 couples were married for free at the flower decorated venue.

The brides were dressed in red saris and the grooms wore golden sherwanis. Some of the grooms carried traditional swords. Each couple was allowed 10 guests.

Mukesh Kumar, a groom, said: “I had decided a long time ago that I would get married at a blessed mahurat (auspicious time), which comes only once a year.”

His nervous bride, 19-year-old Rakhi, said that the mass wedding was a good way to dispense with all unnecessary and irrelevant expenditures that burden a family.

“I am grateful and thankful to the council for helping us celebrate the biggest moment of our lives,” she said.

Former chief justice of Pakistan, Rana Bhagwandas was present on the occasion.

Mangla Sharma, coordinator of the women’s wing of the council, said the cost for each couple’s wedding was approximately Rs.70,000.

Sharma said: “We paid for everything, including the dowry, which consists of bedroom sets, bridal dresses, and other appliances and utensils. Similarly, the couple did not have to spend a single rupee on food or decorations. We are happy that all the money was collected by the Hindu community and other individuals, and no financial support or help was sought from the government.”

Read more: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/41-hindu-couples-tie-the-knot-in-pakistan_100272487.html#ixzz0ZefCA1FI

Hindu Council,Pakistan,Eases Marriage Expenses For 42 Couples

DAWN newspaper reported about the combined marriages of 42 couples belonging to the Hindu Community over the weekend.

Couples from all parts of small and big cities of the Sindh Province came to Karachi and were joined in holy matrimony according to the Hindu Custom of Marriage.All expenses were borne by the members of the Pakistan Hindu Council.This enabled the less priveledged of their community to have a befitting wedding.

The ceremony was held on Sunday at the Y.M.C.A.grounds.

20 Hindu couples tie the knot in Karachi
Twenty-five mandaps were arranged around a raised platform. The purohit spoke into a public address system while the bride and groom followed his instructions.

What made the occasion momentous for 20 Hindu families who had travelled to Karachi for Saturday’s mass wedding at the Swami Narayan Mandir was the incentive— they didn’t have to pay a single paisa. The Pakistan Hindu Council picked the tab.

Eighteen years after social worker Shamji Bijalo married off his Karachi-born daughter to cousins in Jamnagar, Gujarat, she was back in the port city.

This time, Bijalo’s grandson Manesh Manoharlal Dru, a daily wages labourer in Jamnagar, was accompanying her. Dru was in Karachi to marry 18-year-old Kanda Bai, a distant cousin. “My daughter was looking for a Karachi girl for a bahu,” says
Bijalo, a former employee of the Karachi Water Board.

In another mandap sat a Bheel family from Umarkot, Sindh, accompanied by family friend Husain Ali Shah. “I have come with my neighbours to offer moral support,” says Shah, a landlord.

Husain Ali, from a Syed family, said his presence means the world to the Hindus he accompanied. “In the eyes of God, we are all one.”

The Council, a representative body of Hindus, said the initiative will help hundreds of lower income families living in Karachi and other parts of Sindh survive the inflationary conditions in Pakistan.

Spiralling prices of essential commodities and expenses had forced many to put off their children’s weddings.

Said Bijal: “Never in my life have I seen such a good gesture. I have saved over Rs 150, 000.”

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com

Team constituted to investigate burning of holy books
KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday constituted a high-level investigation team to probe into the incident of setting ablaze holy books of Hindus and Sikhs in Kandhkot.

The government took this step after police authorities of district Kashmore failed to arrest the culprits involved in burning the books. Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sindh, Dr Mohan Lal Kohistani will head this fact-finding mission, whereas minority MPAs Saleem Khurshed Khokhar and Pitamber Sewani would assist him as members of the committee. It is pertinent to mention that on September 5, some unidentified miscreants set ablaze religious books of Sikhs and Hindus in a mutual temple, the Guru Nanak Darbar at Kandhkot, in the northern district of the province. The incident panicked the Hindus and Sikhs throughout the province and Pakistan Hindu Foundation issued a call for three-day mourning, after which Hindus observed a shutter down strike in different districts of the province.

“The culprits would not be forgiven at any cost and the Sindh government would soon put these miscreants behind the bars,” announced Kohistani. Addressing an emergency press conference at his office in Sindh Secretariat building with minority MPAs Saleem Khurshed Khokhar, Pitamber Sewani and others, Kohistani condemned the incident and said some miscreants just want to create panic among the religious minorities, but Sindh government assures the Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities that they would be protected at every level.

“I have personally talked to the Sindh chief minister and he has assured that he would ensure justice with Sikhs for which the CM is in constant contact with IG, RPO and DPO concerned for the arrest of culprits and the CM has also directed home secretary and IG Sindh to conduct inquiry into the matter and submit the report within three-day time,” he said.

Chairman Sikh Naujwan Sabha Sardar Ramjesh Sigh, Vice Chairman Sardar Jagjit Singh and others condemned the incident and demanded of the government of Pakistan to help the Hindus and Sikhs to arrest the culprits involved in the incident.

Leading organisation of Pakistani Hindus, the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) is observing three-day mourning. “We believe that DPO Kashmore is behind these incidents, so we demand President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to lodge the FIR against DPO Kashmore,” said PHC president D M Maharaj. In a press statement, Provincial Home Minister Sindh Dr Zulfqar Mirza has directed police authorities to protect the religious minorities and their holy places. In another press statement MQM MPA Dr Haragun Das condemned the Kandhkot incident and has demanded immediate arrest of the culprits behind the incident.

Pakistan Hindu Council says Hindus feeling insecure
March 30, 2007, 00:00 IST
Karachi, March 30: The Pakistan Hindu Council today said Hindus living in Sindh province are feeling insecure due to rising cases of kidnapping and murder of the people from their community.

It appealed to President Pervez Musharraf to take notice and direct authorities to provide protection and take measures to recover kidnapped Hindus from Sakrand, Kashmore and Jacobabad.

"More recently a Hindu businessman, Ashok Kumar Kohistani, has been kidnapped from Sakrand. Police is not registering the case as yet and have not been able to arrest the outlaws. The victim's family does not have enough money to pay the ransom," Visharam Tharwani, general secretary of the council, said in a statement.