Mass Marriages a Hit among Rajasthan Muslims

by Narayan Bareth/Jaipur

  
Mass marriages are gaining popularity among Muslims in Rajasthan. Most of such marriages are being organised by different groups within the Muslim community. The marriages are carried out keeping the simplicity in mind and minimum expenditure. It has inspired those Muslim parents who are looking for a way to manage the financial burden of marriages of their progeny.

Shah Muslim community had organised a mass marriage ceremony in Jaipur recently where marriages of 56 couples were solemnised with simplicity. Marriages are always a costly affair for an ordinary Indian family as it involves a huge amount of money on dowry and extravagant arrangements that come along with it.

But, it was an emotional moment for Zahira Bano witnessing marriages of her two daughters at a mass marriage ceremony which happened recently in Jaipur. "My two daughters got married at the mass marriage ceremony known as Izatamai Shadi and we spent only Rs 15,000," says delighted Zahira Bano. "If I had organised such a marriage at my home, it would have costed nothing less than Rs 1 lakh. It is difficult for a poor family to arrange money for marriage of their sons or daughters," Sabana, a bride too was all praise for such Izatmai marriages. "It is a great relief for worrying parents who find it difficult to arrange money for marriages," says a says. Sabana's father is not very well off and it was not possible for him to arrange Rs 1 lakh for the marriages of his two daughters, his relatives said. But this Izatmai marriage ceremony bailed out many families. Chaman Shah, president of Shah community and main organiser of the ceremony also spoke about benifits of mass marriages.

He said, "These marriages give an opportunity to all the relatives to gather in one place and its' beauty lies in its simplicity. There is no pump and show, no disparity and discrimination in a marriage of this sort." "We charge only Rs 10,000 for one marriage and returning it as dowry of Rs 8,000 to the couple giving them some ornaments as token and other articles," he adds.

Prices are sky-rocketin---g and a poor family can't manage money involving in a marriage, he added. It was the sixth mass marriage of its kind that the Shah community has organised in last few last years.

Sayeed Masoom Ali Shah from Gawaliar, a religious scholar of the community says, "Izatamai marriages are very much Islamic." In the past, poor families used to arrange such marriages, but now it has become more popular, he says. Another scholar Moulana Noor Mohammed also shared similar views.

Moulana belongs to Badi-Ul-Islam, Bundi. It is not good to spent money on pump and show as per the Islamic teachings, he said. Mohammed Rafiq, a groom said, "Mass marriages are useful in saving money and time also, I am so happy to get married in this ceremony, it is favorable for both the parties - bride and groom. Hazi Mohammed Salim, father of a groom strongly liked the marriage ceremony and said we would spent money saved on education and other welfare activities of our family. A large number of relatives, friends and other people attended the ceremony.

Salim Engineer, chief of Zamite Islam community in Rajasthan said that Islam always believed in simple marriages. Various Hindu friends also played an important role in organising Shah community's Izatmai marriages. Gulab Sharma, a local Congress activist shouldered many responsibilities in managing the ceremony. Bhanwar Lal Sharma, a freedom fighter stood at the ceremony all the time and blessed newly married couples.