Karnataka - Bidar   

A wedding sans pomp, splendour

Staff Correspondent

One of the richest men in Bidar celebrates his daughter's marriage in a simple manner

WITH A MESSAGE: Agricultural Marketing Minister Bandeppa Kashempur was among those who attended the simple wedding ceremony held at Jama Masjid in Bidar on Monday.

Bidar: How do you like a marriage attended by 2,000 guests, but costs a little less than Rs. 20,000 to arrange? Abdul Mannan Sait, one of the richest men in Bidar, celebrated his daughter's marriage in a simple manner here on Monday.

"We kept two things in mind — the marriage should be carried out according to Islamic principles, and that it should be simple enough to send a message against unnecessary expenditure," he says.

"The trend of turning marriages into a show of money power has pushed many poor families into misery. Many find it difficult to marry off their daughters as the cost of marriage has gone up beyond reasonable limits. The situation is so bad that in villages, no farmer can arrange a marriage without selling off at least three acres of land," Mr. Sait says. The invitation card, in simple Kannada, carried the details of the wedding rituals as laid out in Islamic scriptures and their meaning. It also comprised a special letter from a father to the daughter, specifying her duty towards her in-laws and society.

The marriage was held at the Jama Masjid, thereby reducing the cost of taking a hall on rent. There was no lighting or decoration in the bride's house or at the marriage venue. The most conspicuous aspect was the absence of a feast. The guests were served just ice-cream," says Abdul Quadeer, the bride's uncle.

"It is on record that Prophet Mohammed's marriage was very simple. And as believers, we are supposed to follow the lifestyle of the Prophet," says Quazi Arshad Ali. "We hope that when a rich man does such a progressive thing, it may inspire others to do so," he adds.

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A wedding sans pomp, splendour

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