Arise Bharat

Courtesy: Panchjanya.com

Varanasi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat set an example of social harmony and traditional values on Wednesday by participating in the Akshay Kanyadaan Mahotsav held in Varanasi. In this event, a mass wedding ceremony of 125 couples from upper-caste, Dalit, and backward communities was conducted. As a father, Dr. Bhagwat performed the kanyadaan (ceremonial giving away of the bride) and washed the bride’s feet.

At the grand event held at Shankuldhara Pond in Khojwa, Dr. Bhagwat performed the kanyadaan of Rajwanti, a tribal girl from Jogidih village in Sonbhadra district. Amidst Vedic chants, he washed her feet and took the solemn vow of kanyadaan. This became an emotional and inspirational moment of the entire event. Rajwanti, under the blessings of her symbolic father Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, married Aman, a tribal youth from Renukoot, Sonbhadra.

During the ceremony, Bhagwat gifted his daughter ₹501 as a token offering. When groom Aman touched his feet, Bhagwat blessed him and said, “Take care of my daughter and always keep her happy.”

Wearing traditional attire—a white kurta, yellow dhoti, and a yellow scarf—Dr. Bhagwat welcomed the wedding procession. The procession of 125 grooms arrived together at the event site from the Dwarkadhish Temple, accompanied by horses, carriages, and bands. Throughout the route, local merchants and residents welcomed the wedding party with flower showers and refreshments.

Active Participation in Mass Kanyadaan:

At the venue, 125 altars were set up, where distinguished citizens of the city performed the kanyadaan, taking on the role of the bride’s father. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also attended the event and blessed the newlyweds.

“Marriage Builds Families, and Families Build Society”: Mohan Bhagwat

Addressing the gathering, Mohan Bhagwat said, “Marriage is not just a union of two individuals, but the foundation of two families and, broadly, of society. A family is like the brick of a house, and it gains strength through values.” He emphasized turning values into habits. Praising Eastern Uttar Pradesh regional pracharak Virendra Jaiswal, he said that he had transformed a sense of duty into a social initiative.

He urged the participating guardians who performed kanyadaan to meet the bride and groom at least once or twice a year. He said, “Do not consider family to be limited to just husband, wife, and children. That makes families and society weak. One must act as an inseparable part of the family.” He added that the wedding ceremony, held at the historic Shankuldhara pond in the presence of Lord Dwarkadhish, reflected the eternal values of human culture.

A New Life Adorned with Gifts After the wedding, the newlyweds were gifted bicycles, sewing machines, clothes, jewelry, cash, sweets, and other essential items to help them begin their new life with self-reliance and enthusiasm.