The Vow Factor

This was not the first time that the club organised a mass marriage ceremony. It has been doing so for a good 13 years now. “In all these years,we have solemnised as many as 550 marriages,” says Mehta. At every marriage,the club gives a small gift to the newly-weds. This year,the gift was wrapped with an environmental message. “Preventing the cutting of wood for fuel,which is common in villages,is very important for the environment,thus each couple was given a new gas connection,” add the club members. A newly-wed couple,Nathu and Asha Sutar,smile,”The gas connection means we won’t have to cut wood to be used as fuel in our choolahs. For us,this marriage meant less expenses and more saving.” The couple,like the other 35 couples,hails from nearby villages in Maval Taluka.

Every gas connection and its accompanying accessories was worth R 20,000. “The Club spent over R 8 lakh on conducting the marriage. It is our social responsibility and we are glad to be carrying out our duty,” Mehta says. The club members point out that those who participate in such mass marriage ceremonies come from poor backgrounds. Most of the couples are either from below poverty lines,children of farmers,labourers,industrial workers and hotel employees. “Those who cannot afford grand marriages voluntarily opt for such ceremonies. These marriages send out an effective social message. Here,you don’t have to resort to wastage of time,money and effort. These are simple marriages that turn out to be grand for the underprivileged couples,” Mehta adds. This year,they even had a visually-challenged couple as well as a hearing and speech impaired couple. A large gathering of more than 10,000 people blessed the newly-weds at the function organised on the ground of Nathubhau Bhegade Patil Primary School.

Dilip Parekh and Yadvendra Khalde were the coordinators while Vilas Jadhav was the campaign chief from the Club. Among others present were Balasaheb Bhapkar,chairman and chief managing director of Saiprasad Group of Companies,Pramod Jejurikar,district governor Rotary District 3131,Mohan Palesha,nominated district governor,Vilas Jagtap,former district governor,Gajanan Babar,MP,Bala Bhegade,MLA,Anna Bansode,MLA,Digambar Bhegade,former MLA,Sachin Shelake,Mayor,Talegaon,Rajusheth Raka,director,Raka Gas Service,Mahesh Jangam,regional manager Bharat Gas Company,and Indermal Oswal,chairman,Rupee Co-operative Bank.