“The marriages that took place today are samathuva thirumanangal (egalitarian marriages) sans casteist differences. Of the 1,006 couples, 611, including 11 differently-abled couples, belong to Scheduled Castes, 34 belong to Scheduled Tribes, 183 belong to Most Backward Classes, 132 belong to Backward Classes and 46 to other communities,” said Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday presiding over the mass marriages near the Thiruverkadu Mariamman temple.
Odhuvars from various temples chanted the Thevaram invoking the blessings of the Almighty. Jayalalithaa blessed the thirumangalyams and ministers took them from her and presented them to the couples. At 9.45 am, the couples tied the knot and exchanged garlands and the Chief Minister blessed them by showering flower petals on them.
“The government led by your sister has brought light to the families of 1,006 couples today”, the CM said felicitating the newly-weds. “Life is a challenge and the couples should face it with guts. Society will welcome only those who are ready to face challenges and ignore who fear to face challenges. The society will regard as humbugs those who make empty talks in the morning and go back on their words in the evening.”