1,006 couples to tie the knot

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A massive pandal with an attractive façade, erected on a 11-acre ground near the renowned Karumari Amman temple at Thiruverkadu, will greet 1,006 couples who will congregate on Monday for their marriage to be solemnised by the chief minister J. Jayalalithaa as part of the mass weddings organised by the state Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department.

The pandal, erected to cover 1.65-lakh square feet, can accommodate over 19,000 people. While the HR & CE department has made elaborate arrangements for the conduct of the event that will be memorable to the couples in matrimony, the state transport department has arranged to bring the couples and their close relatives – four each for the bride and groom respectively, to the function spot from their respective districts and take them back too.

Over 19 marriage halls in Poonamallee, Maduravoyal, Thiruverkadu, Vanagaram and Porur have been booked to accommodate the couples.

Adequate numbers of tanks of drinking water tanks in addition to other amenities have been provided at the function site.

According to sources, the entire expenses for organising the mass marriages would work out to `4 to 5 crore and this is to be met from the surplus funds of the high revenue earning temples under the control of the HR & CE.

Ms Jayalalithaa will give away four gram gold ‘Thali’ to each couple and bless them. Assembly Speaker D. Jayakumar will preside. HR & CE minister M.S.M. Anandan and other ministers, chief secretary Debendranath Sarangi, HR & CE secretary M. Rajaram and others will participate in the function.

About 21 varieties of seervarisai (wedding gifts) will be given to each couple on the occasion.