PUNE: The pleasant wintry morning of Sunday 4th December 2022 brought with it all the hustle-bustle of wedding arrangements at Punyadham Ashram, Pune. The excitement, energy, and anticipation of the approx 2500 people at the venue were infectious. It was indeed a heartwarming experience for all who had the opportunity to witness 12 couples from humble backgrounds, hailing from different parts of Maharashtra, tie the knot at a special Mass Marriage ceremony organized by Punyadham Ashram. This is the 6th consecutive year that this noble ceremony has been organized.
“Every year Punyadham Ashram organizes a Mass Marriage of girls whose families cannot afford the expenses of an elaborate wedding. The girls are supported to fulfill their dreams of having a beautiful wedding ceremony with their families & friends. This unique institution is trying to bring about a change in the mindset of the populace by discouraging the custom of dowry”, smiles Maa Krishna Kashyap, Chairperson, who has made ‘Service to God through Service to Humanity’ her mission in life!
The brides looked radiant in Gold-Red sarees, and beautifully adorned jewelry and the grooms smartly dressed in ‘Sherwanis, phetas & mojris’. The groom’s baraat procession came in with all the baraatis dancing and the brides’ families eagerly awaiting to welcome the grooms. Finally, after the grooms joined their respective brides in the beautifully decorated mandap, the learned pandits started chanting the wedding ceremonies. The varmala, saat-pheras & kanyadaan were performed in presence of all esteemed guests.
The marriage ceremony was performed in traditional Maharashtrian antarpat, followed by the pheras and the kanyadaan ceremony. All the guests then proceeded for a lavish and sumptuous Maharashtrian lunch which was enjoyed thoroughly by everyone.
Maa Kashyap, in the presence of Sadananda Shetty, President, then blessed the young couples and distributed gifts in the form of the bridal trousseau of new clothes, blankets, and all necessary household items to help the newlyweds start their married life.
It was now time for the proverbial ‘bidaai’ when the bride bade a tearful farewell to her parents and accompanied the groom with his family to her new home to start their wedded life. This was such an emotional moment for all present and this moment made organizing these marriage ceremonies makes truly worthwhile. All in all, the entire ceremony was a resounding success and a memorable one for everyone who was part of it.
The whole credit for this immensely noble initiative goes to Maa Krishna Kashyap, who meticulously planned this massive event which was perfectly executed. Without her wholehearted support and gracious presence and inspiration, none of the activities of Punyadham ashram are possible.
Vishwa Jagriti Mission Trust, Pune is a non-profit organization that runs Punyadham Ashram, primarily a Senior Citizens’ Home on a beautiful, serene campus. The premise also has a glorious Shree Siddeshwar Mahadev Mandir, a magnificent Shikhar of Mt Kailash, a resplendent Sai Mandir, a Gaushala with more than 35 indigenous breed cows, a Library, a Reading Room, and the Krishna Avataar Sanskritik Bhavan which can accommodate 3000 people at a time and is used for social, spiritual and cultural programs.
Apart from this Punyadham Ashram also conducts many social welfare activities like rehabilitation of families affected by natural calamities, sponsoring the education of deserving girls from insurgency-hit areas of Maharashtra, conducting mass marriages for the families of poor and destitute farmers, conducting medical camps and motivational programs for women inmates of the Yerwada jail and so on.
