The tribals in the forest at Dharampur are

“Living on the edge”.

They have no savings.

A marriage means, inviting

whole hamlet for lunch-

(about 500 people).
 

Cost may be between

Rs. 10,000 & Rs. 30,000.

This cost means,

the couple will be in debt for

next ten years… or more.

Most couples will not even get such loans.
 

So what can they do?

Can they remain unmarried for

 whole life! 

No.
 

They have engagement ceremony. 

Then with consent of village elders,

 the couple starts living together.
 

Whenever they can manage

 for the finance,

 they will complete the

religious marriage ceremony.

Official marriage is very important

for them.
 

If official ceremony is not completed,

 they are afraid,

 after death,

they will not get entry in the heavens!!

So they live a life with tension.
 

In the words of

Shri Bhikhubhai Vyas,

 in his twenty years of social service in Dharampur,

“Samuha Lagna” is the best service providing mental peace to the people.
 

Most of the couples getting married

already have their children.

 In one instance, the Grand-father,

 Father  & Son- all got married

 at one Samuha Lagna.
 

The system for Samuha Lagna is:

Each couple contributes Rs. 1,100

 towards marriage expenses.

Each couple gets gifts of

Clothes, Mangalsutra, Pots,

Shawls, Cap, etc.

  Total cost of gifts may be around
Rs. 2,500.
 

The NGO and villagers

together manage entire celebration, decoration, etc.
 

 
For 50 marriages,

there would be 5,000 guests

who take lunch at the marriage time. 

About 500 persons would be present

 for both days and

would be looked after.

 All expenses are contributed by

  “Friends of Dharampur”.
 

Government of Gujarat would gift-

under two different schemes –

Rs. 10,000 per couple.

This will go directly to the couples.

Rashmin Chandulal Sanghvi

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