From MP to UP and Nepal, 300 Daughters to Tie the Knot at Bageshwar Dham

Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh: In a heartwarming initiative, Bageshwar Dham will host the “Saptam Kanya Vivah Mahotsav” this Maha Shivaratri, uniting 300 daughters from across India and Nepal in marriage. Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri has released the list of selected girls, which includes 60 orphans and several daughters of differently-abled parents. The entire wedding expenses will be covered by donations collected at the temple.

Nationwide Selection
The daughters have been chosen from 60 districts across 10 states, with Madhya Pradesh contributing 229 brides and Uttar Pradesh 56. Remarkably, one bride will travel from Nepal to participate in the ceremony. The festival aims to provide a dignified marriage for girls from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, celebrating the spirit of community support and charity.

Diverse Backgrounds of Brides
Among the 300 selected brides, 60 are orphans. Additionally, 138 have lost their fathers, 28 have lost their mothers, eight are differently-abled, and 23 are daughters of differently-abled parents. Thirty-nine girls come from very poor families, highlighting the temple’s commitment to empowering marginalized communities.

Funded Entirely by Temple Donations
The cost of these weddings will be fully borne by the donations collected at Bageshwar Dham. Pandit Shastri believes that if similar initiatives are undertaken across temples nationwide, no girl would ever be considered a burden due to financial constraints. Applications for the brides were collected between December 1 and December 15, along with all necessary documentation, which formed the basis for the selection.

Ceremonial Preparations
The girls, whose names include Ranjita Sen, Neelu Kushwaha, Ranu Raghuvanshi, Sapna Vishwakarma, Mansi Srivastava, Masoom Prajapati, Jyoti, Shivani Kushwaha, Radhika Khengar, Neelam Korochi, and others, will participate in the sacred seven rounds of marriage rituals at the holy Bageshwar Dham. Mehndi and other pre-wedding ceremonies will also be part of the grand festivities, marking a memorable day for the brides and their families.