SURAT, April 29: Union Textiles Minister Kashiram Rana, speaking on the occasion of the 17th mass marriage ceremony of the Surat Rana Samaj in the city today, said that mass marriages were an indication of a social transformation in our society. Rana, who is also president of the All-India Rana Samaj, blessed 52 couples of the Rana Samaj, who tied the knot.Interestingly, mass marriage ceremonies of four different communities were held in the past three days. While the Koli Samaj of the taluka and the Mahyavanshi Samaj of Amroli held its annual mass marriage ceremony on Tuesday, the Surat Meghwal Samaj held a mass marriage ceremony on Wednesday.People from all economic strata of the society took part in the marriage ceremonies. Rana said that he expected this tradition to continue as it was a social change in the right direction. ``I see this as a very positive social trend and all of us should wholeheartedly support such mass marriage functions as they help remove social inequalities'', he said.Rana also praised a State government decision, according to which couples entering mass marriages, where more than 20 couples are involved, would be given Rs 1000 each by the government. Mayor Navneet Jariwala, while congratulating the couples for entering into marriage, thanked all those who contributed towards making the function a success.Collector R M Shah, while speaking on the occasion, said that as per the state government decision to give a token assistance of Rs 1000, the district administration would provide the money to the couples soon. Among others, ruling party chief in the SMC Fakir Chauhan, MLA Gulabdas Khasi and others were present.A total of 42 couples tied the knot in the Koli Samaj mass marriage function, while 20 other couples were married off at Meghwal Samaj's mass marriage ceremony.
