Thousands tie the knot as TTD organise mass marriage in Andhra

Hyderabad, Feb 22 (UNI) The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) today organised 'Kalyanamastu' (mass marriage), helping thousands of poor couples tie the nuptial knot in different parts of the state.

At Balaji Bhavana in the city, 55 couples entered into wedlock, where Andhra Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Speaker K R Suresh Reddy and other state Ministers were present to bless the couples.

In Chittoor district as well nearly 500 couples entered into wedlock.

The TTD has proposed to perform free mass marriages of 50,000 couples in first phase under the ''Kalyanamasthu'' scheme. But the response has not been as expected.

The TTD had decided to conduct mass marriage twice a year to help poor Hindu families, who cannot afford the expenses of marriage.

The main objective of the 'Kalyanamastu' programme was to avoid child marriages.

The TTD provided free clothes, ''mangalsutras'' and lunch to the devotees and the families of the couples.

A report from Tirupati said at Tirumalla Hills in the temple, out of 47 registered, 42 couples wearing traditional Hindu dress for weddings, tied the nupital knot in the presence of TTD members and police officials.

A report from Rajahmundry said about 14 couples married amidst vedic chanting as part of the free mass marriages programme.

Meanwhile, at Kakinada 19 couples got married at TTD, Kalyanamandapam.

Speaking on the occasion, District Collector M Subramanyam said many poor people fell into debt traps while marrying and TTD was helping such people by introducing this scheme.

UNI