Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

`Kalyanamasthu' next phase on August 26

Special Correspondent

Any number of couples to be covered this time

TIRUPATI: After the successful first phase of its historic `Kalyanamasthu' programme held all over the State in February last, the Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is preparing to launch the second phase. The auspicious moment is timed between 11.10 a.m. and 11.20 a.m. on August, 26, significantly in the holy `Shravana Nakshathram', said to be the birth star of the Lord Venkateswara.

According to a note circulated at a joint press conference addressed here on Thursday by TTD Board Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy and Executive Officer K.V. Ramanachary, pundits had so set the `muhurat' for the marriages in such a rare `Guru-Shukra' combination that it would bestow the couples as well as the organisers-- the TTD with lasting prosperity and peace. Besides the gold `thalibotlu', the TTD would also provide free of cost a pair of silver `mettelu' and wedding clothes for the couples, Kankanalu, a set of its religious publications dealing with marriages and married life and wedding lunch to the marriage parties.

The `thalibotlu', `mettelu', `kankanalu' and the wedding clothes would be kept at the feet of Lord Venkateswara and despatched to different centres in Andhra Pradesh where the weddings would be performed. The TTD Chairman and the EO said there was no target set as such. "We are ready to cover any number of couples provided they fulfilled the guidelines laid down in this connection to avoid mutually any legal or social problems at a later date.

Eligibility

The intending couples should be majors-- bridegrooms should have completed 21 years and the bride 18 years and submit a self-declaration that their marriages have the approval of their parents. Application forms to register their names for the `Kalyanamasthu' scheme would be made available at offices of MROs, MDOs, village sarpanches and TTD kalyanamandapams operating at different district headquarters. The intending pairs could submit the applications on any day from June 15 and August 10.

Mr. Karunakar Reddy and Chary said that the TTD had taken all possible steps for the second phase of the programme to avoid the earlier pitfalls.

Answering a question, the Board Chairman said that the TTD had spent about Rs.5.3 crores on the first phase and pointed out that the money was no constraint as the objective was to cover as many couple as possible irrespective of their financial and social status.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

`Kalyanamasthu' next phase on August 26
APSRTC to introduce `Anywhere booking' soon
Brahmotsavam draws to a close

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu