Mysuru: On the second day of the 6-day Suttur Jathra Mahotsava, a large-scale mass marriage ceremony was conducted on Friday, during which 135 couples solemnised their marriages in a sacred and dignified setting. The auspicious ceremony was held under the guidance of Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami, the pontiff of Suttur Mutt, and witnessed the blessings of religious leaders representing multiple faiths.Couples from various sections of society participated in the event, highlighting the inclusive character of the event. Of the 135 couples, 4 belonged to the Veerashaiva Lingayat community, 84 to Scheduled Castes, 15 to Scheduled Tribes, 21 to Backward Classes, and 11 were inter-caste marriages, according to the organisers.Special significance was attached to the participation of five couples from Tamil Nadu, three differently abled couples, and three remarriages, all of which drew widespread appreciation.The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including ministers Ramalinga Reddy and Mankala S Vaidya, MLAs RV Deshpande and Hampanagowda Badarli, along with former minister Allam Veerabhadrappa. Religious leaders like Bishop Rev Fr Francis Serrao SJ and Rev Fr Dr Gabriel Mar Gregorios were also present, offering their blessings to the newlyweds.As per tradition, the mass marriage is held on ‘trayodashi’. The Suttur Mutt provided essential wedding attire and ornaments to the couples. Amid the chanting of mantras and traditional music, elders and dignitaries handed over the ‘mangalyas’.Between 2000 and 2025, the Suttur Jathra has facilitated the marriages of 3,346 couples. Last year, 155 couples tied the knot.Among the couples who began their journey together at the jathra, several stories of resilience and compassion stood out. One such union was between Sakamma and C Chinnaswamy. Sakamma, stepped forward to become the life partner for Chinnaswamy, who faces visual impairment.Another moving story of a new beginning involves Mahesh and Chandramma. In a commendable gesture that set a social example, Mahesh came forward to marry Chandramma, who was widowed shortly after her first marriage at the age of 19. Chandramma has now found a supportive companion in Mahesh as they start their lives anew.
