Volunteers and members of Ram-Rahim Sena performed the marriage of at least 101 couples from Hindu and Muslim communities under one roof on Sunday following their respective traditions, cultures and religious beliefs.

Agriculture minister Narendra Singh was also present on the occasion and lauded the endeavours of Pawan Kumar Jaiswal, the Independent MLA from Dhaka Assembly segment and founder chairman of Ram-Rahim Sena. This was the third year Jaiswal held the culture of collective marriage in the district.

Minister Singh said: “The MLA’s task for the welfare of the weaker and downtrodden sections should be imitated by others.”

Jaiswal’s initiative has encouraged affluent people to come forward to help a large section of marriageable boys and girls from underprivileged sections. “Besides few ornaments and items of regular use, all 101 married couples were given essential furniture, clothes, sewing machines, bicycles or thela,” said Jaiswal.

“Baratees (families) both from the Hindu and Muslim grooms assembled at the local inspection bungalow of the irrigation department. From there, all 101 grooms reached the marriage venue, a high school sports ground, in groups for the ceremony,” said Jaiswal.

Most rituals related with the marriage of Hindu and Muslim couples were performed side by side in the marriage camps of both the communities amid chanting of Vedic mantras and recital of aayats (stanzas) from the Quran by the acharyas and maulanas.