CHENNAI: Twenty-seven couples getting married under the same roof may itself be a rare sight. But what made the mass wedding at Geeta Bhavan in Gopalapuram even more special was the fact that each of the 27 couples featured at least one differently-abled partner.
Even as they sat in pairs, all dressed in similar attire, priests went around officiating the nuptials and volunteers got signatures for the registration of the marriages and Minister for Social Welfare Selvi Ramajayam went around congratulating the couples, along with Differently-abled Welfare Secretary Kannegi Packianathan and Commissioner for Differently-abled PR Sampath.
The mass marriage was organised jointly by the TN Handicapped Federation Charitable Trust and the Geeta Bhavan Trust for the second consecutive year. While the rites were conducted by Hindu priests, some of the brides and grooms were Muslims and Christians, much to the surprise of priests.
“This is a sacred act -- the holding of mass marriages for differently-abled. It is sacred for people of all religions. It is the intention of togetherness and doing good that counts. We have just officiated the weddings of some from outside our communities. It has brought untold joy to us, that we could be part of their nuptials,” said a priest, to applause from all present.
The marriages also received support of the State, with financial assistance and the four grams of gold that had been among the poll promises of the AIADMK.
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