Now it is the turn of temples to undertake ‘rath yatras’ for informing the public about the mass marriages scheduled to be held in 100 major temples of the Muzrai Department in the State on April 26.
The publicity campaign, through “Prachara Rathas”, will be flagged off from Mookambika temple at Kollur in Udupi district on February 13. About 10 major temples coming under the Department of Religious Endowments will undertake ‘rath yatras’ to inform the public about Saptapadi, the mass marriage programme. In the second phase, mass marriages will be held in temples on May 24, said Minister for Muzrai Kota Srinivas Poojary on Friday.
The department has roped in the Information and Publicity Department for providing publicity to the programme, and it was decided that 750 publicity boards would be installed across the State. Already, the district administrations, district in-charge Ministers, MLAs and MLCs, and local officials have made elaborate arrangements for the programme.
Under this initiative, the groom will be given a garland, a panche, a shirt, a shawl and ₹5,000 in cash. The bride will be given a garland, a sari and other items, and ₹1,000 in cash. She will also be given ₹40,000 for a gold taali of eight grams.
Under the Social Welfare Department scheme, a sum of ₹50,000 will be given to each SC/ST couple, while under the Revenue Department ₹10,000 will be given to each couple. The last date for registration of prospective grooms and brides is April 1. For more details, call 18004256654.
