Ranchi, Sept. 21: Gone are the days when only those from lower middle classes registered their names with the Agarwal Sabha for marriages without dowries.

This year, the registration list boasts of many professionally qualified girls looking for prospective grooms. Girls, who have registered, include qualified MBAs from Bangalore, engineers and even doctors.

“This type of arranged marriages are a good step since we will meet the man in person and know about his choices. I feel that more girls should come forward for such marriages, as parents are spending a huge amount to educate their daughters,” said Soni Singh, a participant who completed her MBA from Pune. As for the men, the trend has shifted from the business community to accommodate prospective grooms from the service class and the private sectors.

So far, the organisation has registered 50 girls and boys for the marriage encounter scheduled on September 23 and 24. In the ceremony, the details of each candidate will be read out so that interested parties may contact each other at the event itself. Marriages of those compatible will be solemnised on November 21.

The condition of no-dowry marriage, however, remains an integral part of this function organised by Agarwal Sabha, a social organisation running for the past 15 years.

Vice-president of Agarwal Sabha Lalit Poddar said earlier only parents from lower-middle class used to register as it was not possible to afford huge dowries for their daughters.

The registration charge is Rs 100 that includes food and lodging expenses during the session. After the marriage is solemnised, the parents have to deposit Rs 2,500 towards all expenses. The bride is given all household items from the sabha.