Kanyadaan Mass Wedding Ceremony in Varanasi
125 women marry in mass ceremony presided over by Hindu nationalist leader on Akshaya Tritiya festival day.
On the festive occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a grand Kanyadaan Mass Wedding Ceremony, known as the Akshay Kanyadan Mahotsav, took place at Shankul Dhara, Varanasi, on the 30th of April, 2025. This event is traditionally significant as it celebrates new beginnings, prosperity, and spiritual growth. The occasion is considered auspicious for charitable deeds and rituals like Kanyadaan (giving a daughter in marriage).
The ceremony was presided over by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, in the presence of several dignitaries, including Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Nandi, and Baby Rani Maurya. The event attracted hundreds of people, eager to witness a unique celebration of the sacred bond of marriage.
Mohan Bhagwat not only performed the Kanyadaan ritual for the participating women but also paid a surprising visit to the mandap to worship the feet of a tribal Dalit. An emotional moment unfolded when the Sangh chief spoke to a groom, affectionately addressing him as his daughter and advising him to take good care of her.
In the eastern Uttar Pradesh region, the Sangh's regional head, Virendra Jaiswal, spoke about the divine intervention that made this event a reality for a local family. Aman, a tribal Dalit whose marriage was conducted by Mohan Bhagwat, shared that he works as a driver and found himself overwhelmed with joy at the grand celebration.
The event highlighted the importance of treating daughters as a divine blessing, reinforcing the significance of Kanyadaan in Hindu weddings. While specifics on the organizers or local participants in the Varanasi event are lacking, similar events have taken place across various regions in India, emphasizing the cultural importance of Akshaya Tritiya.
- Celebrities and general news outlets took to social media, sharing videos and photos from the Akshay Kanyadan Mahotsav, expressing their admiration for the traditional ceremony and Mohan Bhagwat's added focus on inclusivity.
- On a wider scale, this mass wedding ceremony in Varanasi sparked discussions in policy-and-legislation and politics regarding the status of women and their rights in marital households, particularly within the tribal Dalit communities.
- Since the event, several women's rights advocates have reached out to Mohan Bhagwat, expressing hope that his efforts and collective initiatives like the Kanyadaan mass wedding will lead to a more egalitarian and empowered future for women in India.
- As the importance of the Kanyadaan ritual continues to resonate across the nation, more individuals are actively considering adding this ceremonious tradition to their own weddings as a symbol of respect and love for their daughters.
- In the midst of the cultural celebrations, eyebrows have been raised in certain circles, questioning whether traditional rituals like the Kanyadaan ceremony have a place in the modern, evolving landscape of Indian weddings, leaving many to ponder the delicate balance between preserving age-old traditions and embracing a more progressive mindset.
