HYDERABAD: As many as 7,700 couples tied the knot today at 9.20 a.m. at the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) sponsored programme of mass marriages _ Kalyanamastu - all over the State.
Both the TTD and the State Government made elaborate arrangements for the programme.
These weddings were conducted at the auspicous muhurtham between 9.20 a.m.and 9.32 a.m., amidst chanting of vedic hymns in Dhanista Nakshtram and Vrushabha Lagnam. These marriages were conducted at TTD Kalyana Mandapams, temples and in select places all over the State. The TTD provided free of cost, for each couple, a golden mangalasutram, silver mettelu, new clothes and lunch to the relatives of bride and bridegrooms.
In the State capital Governor Narayan Dutt Towari, Chief Minister K Rosaiah, a host of ministers, TTD chairman Audikesavulu Naidu and senior bureaucrats attended the function at Lalithakala Thoranam in Public Gardens. The dignatories blessed the newly-wed couples.
In Nalgonda district, 363 couples were married under the Kalyanamastu programme.
District Collector SAM. Rizvi, Nalgonda MP Guttha Sukhender Reddy, municipal chairman Pullemla Venkat Narayana Gowd, ward councilor Chilakala Goverdhan blessed the couples at the TTD Kalyana mandapam in the district headquarters.
In Adilabad, about 500 couples tied the knot. District collector Ahamed Nadeem speaking on the occasion said it was an innovative programme by the TTD to help the poor couples.
About 660 marriages were performed in West Godavari district and 425 marriages in East Godavari district.
TTD’s Dharma Prachara Parishad (DPP) representative Chilakapati Vijaya Raghavacharyulu conducted the weddings. The TTD arranged food to 1,200 members in this connection. In Kakinada, about 425 brides and bridegrooms entered into the wedlock.
The district administration has received about 700 applications but only 425 have been selected after verifying the bonafides of the applicants. Last year about 600 marriages were conducted under Kalyanamastu programme.
MLA Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy, Mayor Kavikondala Saroja, Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi, Revenue Divisional Officer GC Kishore Kumar participated in the Kalyanamastu programme conducted at Vishnalayam in Jagnnadhapuram and blessed the couples.
In Rajahmundry, ten couples were wedded under the Kalyanamstu programme.