Fourteen couples were married while 51 other couples were engaged at a mass ceremony held at the Reharki Darbar.
Contrary to the usual custom, all the brides and grooms were decked out in individual dresses and smiles were seen all around as parents hugged their daughters goodbye.
The young men and women bound together in matrimony all belonged to lower-income Hindu families and the costs of the wedding were borne by the management of the Reharki Darbar. The management also provided for the living and food arrangements of hundreds of people, who have come to take part in the fair from all over Pakistan.
Celebrations started on Saturday after the caretaker at the temple, Sant Sadh Ram, laid a wreath around the idol of Sant Satram Das. The three-day fair ends on Monday.
Addressing the crowd, Sadh Ram said the saints’ message was of peace and love. “It teaches us to adopt good, kind habits,” he said. “All religions preach compassion and we must also dedicate our lives to helping those in need,” Sadh Ram told the enthusiastic crowd who greeted his words with claps and shouts.
Security arrangements were tight but the presence of police officials did not deter the dancers. Renowned stage show artist Karshan Bheel entertained the crowd on his flute while everyone joined in to sing the bhajans (religious songs). His performance was accompanied by spotlights, smokescreens and thunderous applause.
SSD Shewa Mandal, Reharki has also arranged for free medical camps and exhibitions of religious pictures. Delegations from Dubai and India have also come to visit the temple at Reharki and pay their respects to their saint. Free transport is being provided to people from Daharki to the temple. “We get peace here and love,” said one of the participants at the fair.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2010.
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