Kozhikode , The organisers of a free marriage registration camp at the Harahara Mahadeva Temple in Karanthur near here had arranged 1,500 application forms, expecting a modest turnout. Nearly 7,000 people turned up on November 1, many travelling from distant districts in the hope of finding a life partner. But they were in for a surprise.
The response also revealed a difficult social reality. The rush was so unexpected that the organisers ran out of forms within hours. They had to make photocopies and eventually approach a printing press to get thousands of additional copies. Outside the temple, the queue stretched beyond the premises and crossed two bus stops along the National Highway. With crowds spilling onto the road and affecting traffic, police personnel were called in to manage the situation. For many who arrived at the temple, the camp was more than just an opportunity to register their names. It was a chance to find a partner after years of waiting and unsuccessful searches. Some even took rooms in the city to attend the camp. Among the women who applied, a considerable number were looking for a second marriage. “I thought this might be an opportunity to find a suitable bride for my son. For the temple committee, the response was both encouraging and troubling. The committee has also been involved in helping patients and supporting people from financially weaker families who find it difficult to meet the expenses of marriage. “We wanted to create a platform where people could find suitable partners without having to pay anything. “Behind every application, there is a story of pain and disappointment. Parents came to us emotionally, saying that they only wanted to find a suitable bride for their sons. When the initial stock of forms ran out, the organisers first tried to arrange photocopies.
The organisers had planned to begin distributing forms at 9 am. But seeing the crowd that had gathered by 7 am, they decided to start early. What was planned as a four-hour programme, ending at 1 pm, continued well into the evening. Nearly 80 per cent of those who registered were men. Many were above 30, while some were in their 40s and 50s. We initially expected around 1,500 to 2,000 people. He said the large number of unmarried people, including those aged 45 and 50, had left the organisers surprised. As the numbers continued to rise, they contacted a printing press and got another 4,000 copies printed.
One woman said she waited for hours to submit an application for her son. She said she had been searching for a bride for her son, but nothing worked out. The organisers said the camp was part of their effort to take up social service activities beyond the temple’s religious functions. But the response was far beyond our expectations,” a committee representative said. It shows how serious the problem has become,” he told reporters. The committee said it did not want to send back people who had travelled long distances with the hope of registering.
Some arrived in Kozhikode early on Sunday morning, while others had travelled from districts such as Kannur, Wayanad and Palakkad.
But collecting applications is only the first step. The temple committee plans to prepare a list of applicants and share it with them to help identify suitable partners. The organisers have also decided to continue the initiative. The overwhelming response has left the committee thinking beyond a single temple and a single camp. Its representatives believe other temples could also take up similar initiatives to help people facing difficulties in finding marriage partners. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
It expects the process of sorting the applications to take around 10 to 20 days. The camp is expected to be held every Sunday from 7 am to 10 am, starting after November 22. Because men account for such a large share of the applicants, finding suitable matches could prove much harder, particularly.
Applicants have been told that responses will begin from the first of the following month.
