Patna, Nov. 20: As many as 61 couples from across the state arrived at Patna City today for the most memorable day of their life — their wedding. A charitable organisation, Anjuman Raza-E-Mustafa, organised a mass marriage ceremony in the open at Noon ka Chauraha.

All 122 brides and grooms came from financially weak families and were more than pleased to be a part of the mass marriage ceremony today. The purpose behind organising the ceremony was to discourage the dowry system. The organisers not only arranged transportation facilities for the couples and their families (they arrived from different districts) but also gave the couples their wedding outfits.

Couples came from Lakhisarai, Vaishali, Hajipur, Nalanda, Sitamarhi, Jehanabad, Bhagalpur and Samastipur. The grooms came dressed in white kurta pyjama with bright saffron and yellow turbans. The brides came clad in red saris.

Chanda Khatoon, a bride from Fatuha, said: “Such mass marriages should be encouraged to check the dowry system. My parents are poor and cannot afford to organise a grand marriage. This mass marriage concept has helped many girls like. It’s a noble way in fighting evil practices.”

Mohammad Alam from Nalanda said: “I came here to get married at this event as I don’t have enough money meet the marriage expenditure on my own.”

The brides and grooms sat separately and a maulvi read out the nikahnama. On completion of the rituals, the couples were handed over the marriage certificates. They were also gifted utensils, blankets and other household things by the charity.

Mahtab Ahmad, the general secretary of Anjuman-Raza-E-Mustafa, said: “These ceremonies are organised to help the poor and discourage dowry, a concern for parents of girls.”

He added: “Later, they end up repaying the debt for the rest of their lives. I want mass marriages to become popular, especially among the financially backward sections of society. It would ease their financial burden.”