In Karachi, Pakistan, 122 Hindu couples, facing financial constraints, opted for a joint wedding ceremony on January 7 under an elaborate marquee adorned with chandeliers. Despite economic hardships and societal challenges, the event symbolized a joyous defiance of poverty and discrimination.
Bride Kalpana Devi, clad in traditional red attire, expressed her happiness at being married in the collective ceremony due to her family’s financial struggles. Weddings in Pakistan are often expensive affairs, and the groom’s family traditionally expects a dowry from the bride’s male relatives, further delaying marriages.
For 25-year-old Sateesh Parmar, the brother of bride Neha Parmar, the mass wedding provided a valuable opportunity due to his weak financial state. The financial crisis in Pakistan, combined with longstanding socioeconomic discrimination against Hindus, has made such collective ceremonies a practical and joyful solution.
The Pakistan Hindu Council organized the event, highlighting the challenges faced by the approximately eight million Hindus in the country. Human rights groups have raised concerns about the marginalization of Hindus in Pakistan, citing instances of forced conversion to Islam through marriage.
While the country grapples with a financial crisis, the mass wedding serves as a testament to the resilience of these communities. Hindu activist Shiva Kacchi reported cases of over 170 families whose daughters were allegedly forcibly converted in 2022. However, authorities have suggested that some girls eloped with affluent Muslim men to escape poverty.
Hindu activist Sundarta Rathor, involved in arranging the collective wedding, emphasized the vulnerability of young girls facing economic challenges and limited education, making them susceptible to external pressures. The event not only symbolizes economic relief but also highlights the broader issues of discrimination and socioeconomic disparities faced by the Hindu community in Pakistan.
