TTD chief's plea to PC on 'mangalsutras' for mass marriage

Tirupati, Oct 11 (UNI) Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Chairman B Karunakara Reddy today requested Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to help make one lakh mangalsutras at the Government Mint in Maharashtra for mass marriages.

Mr Reddy made the request to the Finance Minister last night when he called on him at Chennai last night.

The TTD chief said the devasthanam had decided to perform 50,000 marriages in the first phase on February 27 next year.

Mr Chidambaram who responded positively to the request also asked the TTD to perform such marriages in Tamil Nadu also, a devasthanam official said.

He also asked the TTD Chairman to attend the high-level meeting in New Delhi to finalise the supply of gold dollars required for the mass marriages.

The board had decided to perform one lakh marriages across the country in the second phase and will offer one gram mangalsutras to each bride during the ceremony.

The TTD will also provide free meals to 25 persons belonging to the couple's families attending the marriage, the official added.

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