Bareilly: A grand mass wedding ceremony was held on Thursday in Bareilly under the Chief Minister’s Mass Marriage Scheme, witnessing 469 couples tying the knot. Officials stated that the celebrations will continue over the next two days, with a total of around 1,000 couples expected to be married.

A key highlight of the event was the diverse celebration of traditions. Ninety-seven Muslim couples performed the Nikah on the same stage, while 372 Hindu couples completed the traditional seven rounds around the sacred fire, accompanied by Vedic chants.

The venue featured a beautifully decorated pandal adorned with flowers and colourful fabrics. More than 300 altars were set up for the Hindu ceremonies, conducted under the supervision of Acharyas, while the Nikah for Muslim couples was solemnised by a Qazi. Dedicated staff were deployed at each altar to ensure smooth proceedings for all couples.

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena highlighted the importance of the scheme, noting its benefits for families facing financial constraints. He explained that the government spends one lakh rupees on each couple. Sixty thousand rupees are given in cash in the girl’s name; household items worth thirty-five thousand rupees are provided to the couple for their new home, and fifteen thousand rupees are spent on marriage arrangements such as tents, food, and other necessities.