Rare community marriage blessed by a large congregation

Kochi, May 25: In a rare community marriage blessed by a large congregation, 25 couples including the deaf, the blind and the handicapped, today walked hand in hand to enter into wedlock, disable' the designs of destiny.

The rare group of newly-married included polio-struck Ajith Kumar who saddled to his wheelchair throughout the function as Sajini, also a partially polio-affected, garlanded him amid cheers of relatives and friends.

Drawn from different parts of the State, under the City-based organisation called Prathyasha Foundation, there were also the blind, disabled, handicapped and dumb in pairs to begin a new life together.

Eminent jurist Justice V R Krishna Iyer inaugurated marriage meet, solemnised under Christian, Hindu and Muslim rites as per the choice of the participants.

Kerala State Handicapped Welfare Corporation, which supported the event, presented gifts while the City Corporation gave 4 gms of gold each to the couples.

The aspirants were selected in pre-marriage meet held in December 3, the World Disabled Day, the organisers said, adding that it was always difficult for the disabled to find partners.

The State Corporation promised jobs and self-employment schemes for those who were not employed now and loans if needed, its managing director Philip Jackson said.

UNI