Austerity is the mantra at these weddings

KASARGOD: At a time when marriages have become a platform for ostentatious display of wealth, the Vaniya community in the district finds them as occasions to uphold the traditional values of simple living.  They conduct mass marriages in a simple ceremony at Perna Muchilottu Bhagavathi Temple near Kumbla.Here the couples and their families do not have to invite anybody because the mass marriage is usually held as part of the temple feast twice a year. There is no muhurtham or feast, a simple meal comprising black dal curry, payasam and pickle is served to everyone who is attending the marriage and every couple receives blessings from all the elderly in the community. On Thursday, the Muchilottu Bhagavathi Temple witnessed one of such mass marriage ceremonies in which 66 couple of the Vaniya community tied the knot. According to a member of the community, the mass weddings are organised to avail the couples with blessings of elders. “The marriages are usually public functions, and more than 2,000 people from the community attend them to bless the couples.” The mass marriage is conducted as part of Pooramaholsavam in April and Udayastamana Ulsavam in November. They are occasions for youngsters to find their life partners as well. The marriage certificates are issued by the temple office the same day.The festival brings together nearly 2,000 Vaniya families from Thalappady in Kasargod and Mangalore, Sullia, Madikkeri and Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.