Brief Introduction

Samuha Lagnas
Dharampur Taluka, Valsad District, Gujarat.

On 29th & 30th March, 2008;
82 Samuha Lagnas were celebrated by NGOs.

 

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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