Sat Guru Saant Shadharam: Mass wedding concludes 304th birth anniversary

Around 33 Hindus from India also joined the festivities at the Darbar.

SUKKUR:

As the 304th birth anniversary of Sat Guru Saant Shadharam drew to a close on Friday, eight couples tied the knot at the Shadhani Darbar in Hayat Pitafi village, near Mirpur Mathelo in Ghotki.

The celebrations kicked off with the Hawan Agya (fire worship) and Path Sahib (recitation of religious books), and was followed by Jariyan on the second day, in which sacred threads were tied around the necks of boys between the ages of eight and 15.

The caretaker of the Shadhani Darbar, Bhai Jay Ram Das, explained that Jariyan marks the induction of a boy into the Hindu community.

Satyavart Shadhani performed the rites of the mass wedding. Girls and boys from poor Hindu families tied the knot, while the guests from India were showered with gifts and cash. The celebrations came to an end with devotees reciting a passage from their holy scripture.

The Hindu delegation from India then went to Mathelo Momal Ji Mari on Saturday, where they are expected to spend the night. They are then scheduled to visit temples in Mirpur Mathelo and Khanpur Mahar on Sunday (today), before proceeding to pay their respects at the historic Sadh Bello temple in Sukkur.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2012.