Mass wedding: 10 girls from Joseph Colony married

Several couples’ weddings had been planned before arson attack destroyed dowries.


Ali Usman December 01, 2013
Several couples’ weddings had been planned before arson attack destroyed dowries.

LAHORE:


Ten couples with ties to Joseph Colony were wed here on Saturday, eight months after the brides lost their dowries when a mob, whipped into a frenzy over an alleged blasphemy incident, torched their houses.


Joseph Colony in Badami Bagh is largely a poor neighbourhood and the loss of their homes forced several families to postpone wedding plans. On Saturday, 10 women from the neighbourhood were wed at St Anthony’s Church in a ceremony paid for by charitable donations.

“Many Muslims and Christians contributed generously to arrange for these marriages,” said Father Emmanuel Yousaf Mani, the national director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace, which arranged the ceremony.

“The families of the 10 brides had planned their weddings before the [arson] incident, but they had to be postponed as the families were left with no money and their dowries were burnt,” he said.



“I think these kinds of events should take place regularly, at least once or twice a year. The next time we organise a combined marriage ceremony we should have couples from other faiths too. This would give a real message of peace and harmony. I will propose this within our organisation and work on it,” Father Mani said.

Relatives and friends of the brides and grooms were invited and given dinner. Dowries were arranged for the brides. The 10 brides were first taken to a beauty parlour and then taken to the church. They all walked in together, wearing traditional white dresses and holding bouquets.

“I am happy that all my relatives are here,” said one bride, Saba. “I am also glad to have the other brides here, as there is less pressure on me since there are others getting married the same way as me.”

Chand Masih, one of the grooms, said that he was originally to be married before March. “Our wedding was postponed after my wife’s ancestral home in Joseph Colony was burnt. We are thankful to the church and Christian rights association that arranged for this wedding. I am happy to finally be getting married. Such ceremonies should be organised regularly for those who cannot afford them.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2013.

COMMENTS (1)

Moiz Omar | 10 years ago | Reply

May the couples have a happy and long marriage.

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