The 47th free mass wedding ceremony for persons with disabilities and the underprivileged, organised by Narayan Seva Sansthan at Seva Mahatirth, Badi, concluded on Sunday with 50 couples taking the seven sacred vows. A total of 100 brides and grooms from different states entered into wedlock and embarked on a new journey of family life.
The two-day ceremony began on Saturday with Ganesh Vandana, followed by traditional haldi and mehendi rituals. Dressed in yellow, the 50 couples sat together on a stage decorated with yellow flowers, creating an atmosphere filled with celebration and joy. The evening featured a women’s musical and dance programme with performances based on Radha-Krishna Raas, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Durga and Lord Ram, showcasing the rich colours of Indian culture. On the occasion of Radha Ashtami, devotional songs dedicated to Radha-Krishna and a flower Holi added to the festive spirit.
On Sunday, the 50 couples took seven vows around the sacred fire amid Vedic chants. Some reached the wedding mandap with the support of crutches, while others walked with the help of artificial limbs. Several couples comprised one person with a disability and one without, who chose each other as life partners.
From Seeking Treatment to Leaving Together as Life Partners
A special aspect of the wedding was that several of the brides and grooms had earlier received treatment, surgeries, artificial limbs or assistive devices and rehabilitation support at Narayan Seva Sansthan. Having once come to the institution seeking treatment and support, they now left the same campus hand in hand with their life partners to begin their new family lives. For them, the wedding was not merely a social ceremony but the beginning of a new chapter.
Narayan Seva Sansthan President Prashant Agarwal said that persons with disabilities need respect, opportunities and a secure future, rather than sympathy. Society should recognise their abilities and talents instead of focusing only on their disabilities. He said the wedding included couples where one partner has a disability and the other does not, reflecting their decision to choose each other as life partners beyond prevailing social perceptions.
Agarwal said that over the past 22 years, the institution has facilitated the marriages of 2,582 young men and women with disabilities.
Household Essentials Provided to Newlyweds
The Sansthan provided each newlywed couple with essential household items to help them begin their married life, including a bed, mattress, bedding, cupboard, gas stove and cylinder, kitchen set, fan, sewing machine and trolley bag, along with other daily-use items. Wheelchairs and other assistive devices were also provided wherever required.
Service Contributors Honoured
During the ceremony, former Indian Army Commander B.L. Bandhan from Agra and Rajesh Kanjani from Argentina, among other service contributors, were honoured. Founder-Chairman Padma Shri Kailash ‘Manav’, President Prashant Agarwal, Director Vandana Agarwal and Jagdish Arya presented them with turbans, ceremonial stoles and mementoes.
Sushila Parihar of a freedom fighter family from Jodhpur was also honoured for her spirit of compassion and service.
Founder Kailash ‘Manav’, Co-founder Kamla Devi, President Prashant Agarwal, Director Vandana Agarwal, Palak Agarwal and Yash Mehta were among those present at the ceremony. Guests also visited the institution’s newly constructed ‘World of Humanity’ and learned about its various service and rehabilitation initiatives.
As the newlywed couples departed with household essentials after taking their sacred vows, many eyes welled up with tears of happiness. For some, it was the fulfilment of a long-awaited dream of finding a life partner; for others, it was the beginning of a home and family of their own.
The 50 couples carried more than household gifts with them as they left the wedding venue. They carried with them a sense of dignity, belonging and the confidence to begin a new chapter of life together.
