Applause, petal showers at mass wedding

bellary: thirty-six couples tied the knot at a mass marriage here. elders showered flower petals on the newly-weds instead of the traditional rice and garlands were exchanged amid clapping of hands and not shlokas from hindu shastras. the rotary club of vidyanagar had arranged the marriage at jindal township, 40 km from here. the marriage had blessings of five swamijis, who gave a `revolutionary touch' as also make it look like a traditional lingayat wedding.mahanta swami of vijaya mahanteswar math of ilkal blessed the couples. while the naathi-charaami, a mantra for marriages, was not heard at the marriage, shlokas from shiva purana and teachings of basava __ heard in lingayat community marriages __ reverberated through the hall. the marriage took a different colour as swamijis insisted that both bride and groom take oath that they would practise a noble way of life that would help both lead a peaceful life in times of distress and happier moments. the bride tied a rudrakshamala on the groom's wrist while taking oath, and the groom tied three knots of the mangalya promising he would protect her in all situations. both took oath that they would treat all others as brothers and relatives and practise ekapathni and pathi system (monogamy) through their life. ``marriages are a socio-religious revolution where both bride and groom bind some values by respecting each other. it should not be a one-way practice,'' said the swamiji. ``marriages are not to satisfy the kaama. it should be a union of two souls which lead towards yoga and then to meet the eternal form of shivayoga.'' thousands of people, including friends and relatives of the couples, thronged the township to witness the mass marriage, thanks to r.p. raichur, president, vidyanagar rotary club, who made this possible. sajjan jindal, managing director, jvsl, j.k. tandon, joint managing director and ceo, venkatrao ghorpade, chairman, bellary zilla panchayat, were among those who blessed the couples.