Edacheri (Kannur): Thalayi native expatriate Salim and wife Rubeena set a model for all by marrying off five girls along with the wedding of their daughter Rameesa. Women from Wayanad, Edacheri, Gudalur, Malappuram and Meppayyur were married off by Salim irrespective of their religions.

Two of the marriages in the mass wedding were conducted as per Hindu customs and three according to Islamic practices. Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal solemnised the wedding. Salim presented 10 sovereigns of gold for each bride including her daughter and all of them wore the same kind of saree for the function.

Salim was determined to marry off his daughter with a man who would not ask for dowry and it was his decision to conduct the weddings of the women who belong to financially backward families. Salim himself visited the families to find the deserving persons and used the money kept for Rameesa’s marriage for a humble purpose instead of spending for extravagance.