PUNE: The grand annual event of ‘Mass Marriage’ at Punyadham Ashram was held on November 30^th, 2025. It was indeed a heartwarming experience for all who had the opportunity to witness these 18 couples, including 9 visually impaired couples, hailing from different parts of Maharashtra, tie the knot at a special ceremony organized by Punyadham Ashram for the underprivileged section of our society, that too without any expense or dowry. This is the 10^th year that this unique function has been organized, and to date, over 165 couples coming from humble families have been wedded in a grand celebration.

The excitement, energy, and anticipation of over 2500 people at the venue were infectious, with all the hustle-bustle of wedding arrangements, the sounds of shehnai, floral decorations, and festive atmosphere everywhere in Punyadham.

The brides looked radiant in Gold-Red sarees, beautifully adorned jewelry, and the grooms smartly dressed in ‘Sherwanis, phetas & mojris’. The baraat procession of the grooms entered with all the baraatis dancing, while the brides’ families eagerly waited to welcome them. Finally, after the grooms joined their respective brides in the beautifully decorated mandap, the learned pandits started chanting the wedding rituals. The marriage ceremony was performed ia n traditional Maharashtrian antarpat, followed by the pheras and the kanyadaan ceremony, in the presence of esteemed guests.

“Every year, Punyadham Ashram organizes a mass marriage ceremony of girls whose families cannot afford the expenses of an elaborate wedding. The girls are supported to fulfil 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”, said Maa Krishna Kashyap, Chairperson, who has made ‘Service to God through Service to Humanity’ her mission in life!

The day became even more special with the gracious presence of eminent personalities who came to bless the couples. President CA Sadananda Shetty, Secretary Ghanshyam Zawar, Trustee Ganesh Kamthe, along with renowned philanthropist Smt. Mamata Sindhutai Sapkal, Vijay Soni, Vishwanath Todkar, and renowned personalities Mahadev Babar, Gafoor Pathan, Virsen Jagtap, Sangita Tai Thosar, Jalinder Kamthe, and Vasant More were also present to bless the newlyweds.
 

After all the traditional rituals, it was time for the Chairperson Maa Krishna Kashyap, President Sadananda Shetty, the Trustees, and the special guests to bless the young couples with gifts and trousseau, consisting of household items, dinner sets, cookers, blankets, new sarees, and salwar-kameez sets, to help the newlyweds start their married life. “Our best wishes are with these couples and hope they find true happiness and togetherness in life”, said Maa Kashyap.

It was a delightful sight to witness those couples who were married a few years ago come together to celebrate this special occasion. The guests were then treated to a lavish Maharashtrian lunch, which was enjoyed thoroughly by all.

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 dedicated support, gracious presence, and inspiration, none of the activities of Punyadham Ashram would be possible.

The post Heartwarming Mass Wedding Ceremony Unites 18 Couples at Punyadham Ashram appeared first on NRI News.

Why is this happening? The reasons range from irreconcilable differences to changing societal norms, refusal of empowered women to stick on with abusive relationships as they traditionally did, and sometimes even the misuse of legal mechanisms such as Section 498A of the IPC by different parties.

As relationships head south, including marriages of several decades, they show up for the final reckoning in the Family Court— an institution that bears mute testimony to an unparalleled range of cases. From the heartrending to the cruel and bizarre, these stories spotlight a society’s hidden crevices and contradictions in rapid transition.

Through candid, first-person narratives combined with legal insight, When Love is Lost: Cases from the Family Courts of a Changing India by journalist-writer Kalyani Sardesai sheds light on the emotional and psychological toll of separation and divorce, as experienced by men, women, and lawyers in the eye of the storm. 

Additionally, counselors, lawyers, and mediators weigh in with valuable inputs on conflict resolution within marriage. “Thus, the book offers an unflinching view of today’s domestic battles and the socio-legal landscape that shapes them. It not only examines different cases of divorce ranging from adultery and bigamy to domestic violence, abandonment, fraud, but also provides information on the legal aspects of splitting marriages, and knowledge of an estranged spouse’s rights as enshrined in the law,” says Sardesai.

Sardesai’s interest in the Family Courts has its genesis in her stint as a journalist covering the Family Court for various national dailies. “As a reporter and writer, one is always interested in stories that reflect changing trends and shifts in priorities. The institution of marriage is a leading example of the same,” she says. “No longer is it a case of ‘till death do us part’. Women are increasingly vocal about their rights, refusing to put with abuse as they traditionally did. Add to that the stresses of modern-day living and the increased emphasis on individuality as opposed to prioritizing the family unit above all. On the other hand, some abuse the provisions meant to protect them. When children are involved, battle lines are drawn even more tightly,” she says.

A well-rounded, comprehensive take covering different communities and socio-economic strata of society, each narration is different, but what runs like a common thread through them all, is the emotional cost of the courtroom battle and subsequent outcome.

Section I has 24 first-person accounts of the narrators along with the relevant legal information. The cases in the book cut across various communities and socio-economic strata and include instances of LGBTQ as well as live-in relationships.

Meanwhile, Section II of the book has mediators, lawyers, counselors, and married and estranged couples sharing valuable perspectives on the battles worth fighting—for not every divorce is a bad thing, and some issues indeed deserve a firm stand.

“When Love is Lost is thus a unique relationship guide for navigating marital relationships with the law as a cornerstone,” rounds off Sardesai.

When Love is Lost: Cases from the Family Courts of a Changing India is available on Amazon at Rs 275.

The post Family Court Cases Reflecting India’s Changing Dynamics appeared first on NRI News.

The excitement, energy, and anticipation of over 2500 people at the venue were infectious, with it all the hustle-bustle of wedding arrangements, the sounds of shehnai, floral decorations, and the festive atmosphere everywhere in Punyadham.

The brides looked radiant in Gold-Red sarees and beautifully adorned jewelry, and the grooms smartly dressed in ‘Sherwanis, phetas & mojris’. The baraat procession of the grooms entered with all the baraatis dancing, while the brides’ families eagerly waited to welcome them. Finally, after the grooms joined their respective brides in the beautifully decorated mandap, the learned pandits started chanting the wedding rituals. The marriage ceremony was performed in traditional Maharashtrian antarpat, followed by the pheras and the kanyadaan ceremony, in the presence of esteemed guests.

“Every year Punyadham Ashram organizes 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”, said Maa Krishna Kashyap, Chairperson, who has made ‘Service to God through Service to Humanity’ her mission in life!

The day became even more special with the gracious presence of eminent personalities who came to bless the couples.

After all the traditional rituals, it was time for the Chairperson Maa Krishna Kashyap, President Sadananda Shetty, the Trustees, and the special guests to bless the young couples with gifts and trousseau, consisting of household items, dinner sets, cooker, blankets, new sarees and salwar-kameez sets., to help the newlyweds start their married life. “Our best wishes are with the newlyweds and hope they find true happiness and togetherness in life”, said Maa Kashyap.

It was a delightful sight to witness those couples who were married a few years ago, come together to celebrate this special occasion. The guests were then treated to a lavish Maharashtrian lunch, which was enjoyed thoroughly by all.

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 dedicated support, gracious presence, and inspiration, none of the activities of Punyadham Ashram are possible.

The post The Grand Mass Marriage of 15 Couples at Punyadham Ashram appeared first on NRI News.

The Mass Marriages ceremony is a noble initiative of Punyadham Ashram, which aims to support the neediest section of society by organizing weddings for girls whose families cannot afford the expenses of an elaborate wedding. The event is organized without any expense or dowry, and it is trying to bring about a change in the mindset of the populace by discouraging the custom of dowry.

The excitement, energy, and anticipation of over 2000 people at the venue were infectious, with all the hustle-bustle of wedding arrangements, the sounds of shehnai, floral decorations, and the festive atmosphere everywhere in Punyadham. 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 awaited to welcome the grooms.

Finally, after the grooms joined their respective brides in the beautifully decorated mandap, the learned pandits started chanting the wedding rituals. The marriage ceremony was performed in traditional Maharashtrian antarpat, followed by the pheras and the kanyadaan ceremony, in the presence of esteemed guests.

The day became even more special with the gracious presence of eminent personalities, including Ex-mayor of Pune- Prashantdada Jagtap, Former M.L.A Mahadev Babar, Kondhwa P.I Corporator-Nandatai Lonkar, Nagar Sevika Sangitatai Thosar, Corporator-Gafur Pathan, and many more.

After all the traditional rituals, it was time for the Chairperson Maa Krishna Kashyap, President Sadananda Shetty, the Trustees, and the special guests to bless the young couples with gifts and trousseau, consisting of household items, dinner sets, cooker, blankets, new sarees, and salwar-kameez sets., to help the newlyweds start their married life.

“Every year Punyadham Ashram organizes 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”, said Maa Krishna Kashyap, Chairperson, who has made ‘Service to God through Service to Humanity’ her mission in life!

It was heartwarming to see couples who were married a few years ago come together to celebrate this special occasion. All the guests were treated to a lavish Maharashtrian lunch, which was enjoyed thoroughly by all.

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 dedicated support, gracious presence, and inspiration, none of the activities of Punyadham Ashram are possible.

Punyadham Ashram’s annual Mass Marriages ceremony was a grand success, and it marked another milestone in the institution’s noble initiative to support the most needy section of society. The event was a heartwarming experience for all who witnessed it, and it showcased the power of love, compassion, and community spirit.

The post Punyadham Ashram’s Annual Mass Marriages a Grand Success appeared first on NRI News.

“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.

The post Joyous Celebrations Of Mass Marriages Of 12 Couples At Punyadham Ashram appeared first on NRI News.