101 TRIBAL COUPLES TIE THE KNOT AT A MASS MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN EASTERN INDIA

By ANI
Monday, May 24, 2010

NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH

DURATION: 3.05

SOURCE: ANI

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NONE

101 tribal couples tie the knot at a mass marriage ceremony in eastern India.

More than 200 people belonging to several tribal communities tie the knot at a mass wedding ceremony in India’s eastern Siliguri city.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

SHOWS:

SILIGURI, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (MAY 23, 2010) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

1. EXTERIOR OF THE MASS MARRIAGE VENUE

2. BRIDES WALKING IN A QUEUE

3. DRUMMERS PLAYING

4. COUPLES EXCHANGING GARLANDS

5. PRIEST CHANTING HYMNS

6. BRIDEGROOM SITTING NEXT TO SACRED FIRE

7. GUESTS SITTING

8. COUPLES SITTING

9. GUESTS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) KAMAL PUGOLIYA, ORANISING MEMBER OF THE MASS MARRIAGE PROGRAMME, SAYING: “What happens is that these people start living together but remain away from the proper customs and rituals, and because of that they do not get recognition and acknowledgement of the society to attend social and religious functions. So, we wanted to make them be part of the society.”

11. COUPLES PERFORMING RITUALS

12. GUESTS STANDING

13. BRIDEGROOM PUTTING SINDOOR (VERMILION POWDER SIGNIFYING THE WEDDED STATE) ON BRIDE’S FOREHEAD

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) JITEN TIKKA, A TRIBAL BRIDEGROOM, SAYING: “We are five brothers, one of whom got recently married. We incurred huge expenses. We are tribals and very poor and cannot afford to spend on our marriages so I have come here. I am very happy.”

15. GUESTS AT THE CEREMONY

STORY: More than 200 people belonging to several tribal communities tied the knot at a mass wedding ceremony in India’s eastern Siliguri city on Sunday (May 23).

Tribal couples working in tea gardens in Terai-Doars region of North Bengal got married with the help of the Guruji Pranimi Trust that organizes such programmes every year.

The main objective of the initiative was to bring forward the socially and economically disadvantaged tribals, who are not a part of the mainstream.

“What happens is that these people start living together but remain away from the proper customs and rituals, and because of that they do not get recognition and acknowledgement of the society to attend social and religious functions. So, we wanted to make them be part of the society,” said Kamal Pugoliya, an organizing member of the mass marriage programme.

The couples were happy to get their marriages solemnized with proper customs and tradition without spending a penny for it.

“We are five brothers, one of whom got recently married. We incurred huge expenses. We are tribals and very poor and cannot afford to spend on our marriages so I have come here. I am very happy,” added Jiten Tikka, a tribal bridegroom.

The couples were gifted household items required to begin their newly married life.

Mass marriages are becoming popular, especially among the economically backward sections of Indian society, as these help in reducing financial worries.

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