Hyderabad, May 16: It was a dream come true when not just one or two couples but 22 Sikh couples got married in a grand and befitting manner in the presence of a few thousand people who has come from different corners of the state to bless the newly-wed.
The happiest of them were the parents of the couples who never dreamt that their sons and daughters would get married in such a grand manner, and that too without spending a penny from their pockets.
To add to the happiness, many State Government officials and Sikh heads graced the ‘Samuhik Vivah Samagam’ function and blessed the newly wed couples.
On behalf of the State government, the Hyderabad District Administration handed over cheques to the newly wed couples.
All this was possible thanks to the Prabandhak committee, Central Gurudwara Saheb Gowliguda for making this impossible dream come true for new couples.
This unique service was provided by the Prabandhak Committee keeping in view that many families cannot afford to perform such luxurious marriages that require heavy expenditures that runs into lakhs of rupees which cannot be borne by economically backward Sikh families.
22 couples tied the knot at this mass marriage ceremony at Gurudwara Saheb Barambala, Sikh Chawniat in the presence of noted religious heads from Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra.
The brides and bridegrooms hailed from Nanded of Maharastra, Hyde r abad, Na gpur , Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Warangal and other Indian cities.
The Samuhik Vivah Samagam began at 9.30 am with a colourful baraat of 22 bridegrooms on horses from Asha Singh Bagh Gurudwara, Sikh Chawni to Gurudwaea Barambala Saheb.
Anand Karaj (Lawan Phere), the solemnising of marriage was performed at 11.30 am.
The most heartening part was that all the Sikh Gurudwaras of Hyderabad extended their wholehearted support for the successful conduct of these marriages.
Various Prabandhak committee members and individuals presented articles and household utensils to the newly married couples.
The Minorities Welfare Department, government of Andhra Pradesh has extended a financial support of Rs 15,000 to each couple in form of household articles.
People who witnessed the mass marriages expressed happiness and complimented the Prabandhak Committee for solemnising the marriage of Sikhs who cannot afford luxurious marriages.
The Prabandhak Committee president S Tirlok Singh and general secretary S Satbir Singh said that only Gurmukh and Amritdhari Sikhs were allowed to participate in the marriages.
The Prabandhak Committee made all arrangements for the two-day event.
–Agencies