Mohan Bhagwat to lead 'Kanyadaan' of 125 girls in Varanasi today

Varanasi: Karmkandi (performers of rituals) from all castes will be chanting mantras as grooms and brides from forward, OBC, SC, ST classes and even inter-caste, tie the nuptial knot and ‘Kanyadaan' (giving away the bride) by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya at Sankuldhara Pond in Kashi on Wednesday.

To send out message of caste and social equality, Dalit grooms will take part in ‘ghudchadhi' (mounting the bridal steed) ritual and reach the wedding ‘mandap' on horses. Inspired by Bhagwat, Sangh functionary kshetra karyawah (regional in charge) Virendra Jaiswal, did not hold reception party after his son's marriage and decided instead to conduct Kanyadaan of girls from poor families and invited Bhagwat to perform the ritual. "Initially, we were preparing for wedding of only 111 couples, but as requests mounted, the number increased to 125," said Jaiswal, mentioning that the event would symbolise the RSS chief's call for ‘one temple, one well, one crematorium' as not only do the selected couples represent all castes, but even the ritualists will also not be only Brahmins but different castes, who are in Vedic and Karmakand studies.

With the arrival of Bhagwat in the afternoon, the rituals of ‘Var-Darshan' (viewing groom) will take place. Grooms will march to the wedding venue in a baraat (procession). Grooms from upper, backward and Dalit classes will ride together on horses, carriages and chariots, said the Sangh functionaries busy in finalising preparations. Dignitaries from various sections of society will play the role of guardians and wash the feet of the bridegrooms.

To inspect finalisation of arrangements, police commissioner Mohit Agrawal, divisional commissioner S Rajalingam, district magistrate Satyendra Kumar and other senior officials reached Sankuldhara. The organisers shared a detailed itinerary with officials, saying the wedding procession will start at 4pm from Sankuldhara Pond and reach Dwarkadhish Temple amid beats of dhols, bands, DJ and fireworks. At the same venue, rituals of kanyadaan by Bhagwat will be performed late evening. After the rituals, Bhagwat will address all, which will be followed by a feast on Ramanand School campus. The organisers said Akshay Tritiya is known as a fest of daan (donations) and people will be encouraged for blood and eye donations.