Indian Tribals Mass Vedic Wedding in Terror Zone

April 20, 2006

Poor tribal couples tie nuptial knot in Naxal-affected areas

HT Correspondent

Varanasi, April 18

AMID CHANTING of Vedic mantras and singing of marriage songs, 22 poor

tribal girls of Naxal-affected areas tied the nuptial knots at Ahraura

Mandi Parishad Ground in Mirzapur district on Monday.

As part of the community policing to gain confidence of members of the

tribal community in Naxal-affected areas, police had arranged the

marriage of 22 tribal girls and the nuptial knots of bride and grooms

were tied under the supervision of district magistrate Umesh Mittal

and SP Arun Kumar.

Sources said, marriage of Nirmala, sister-in-law of dreaded Naxal

Lalvrat, who is carrying an award of Rs 50,000 on his head, was also

solemnised in the mass marriage ceremony. Ramchandra Kol and Gyanwati,

father and mother of Nirmala performed the rituals on the occasion.

Wives of both the officials were also present on the occasion to

welcome the barats of each poor tribal bride. The marriages were

performed under the supervision of Acharya Pt Gopalji Pandey and Pt

Chandramauli.

Besides, 22 Vedic Brahmins got the marriage solemnised in a

traditional manner.

All the marriage expenses of brides were borne by the police

department to create a sense of security and love amongst the poor and

hapless tribals.

Sources said around Rs 2.5 lakhs were spent on the entire arrangement,

which was a part of the fund provided by Union Government under

community policing scheme.

Elaborate security arrangements had been ensured at the venue of

marriage ceremony to face any challenge of Naxals to create any

problem of law and order there.

Thousands of people had assembled to watch the unique mass marriage

organised by the administration.

The grooms were given bi-cycles, watches, transistors whereas all the

brides were given sewing machines, sarees and sweets etc. Apart from

this around 5,000 people were given lunch to mark the function.

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