Mangaluru: Blending tradition with simplicity, the Perne Muchilot Bhagavathi Temple near Kumble hosted a mass wedding ceremony on Wednesday, where 11 couples tied the knot in the presence of thousands of devotees and well-wishers. The temple is located about 50km from Mangaluru in Kasaragod district of Kerala.Accompanied by festive music and rituals, the brides and grooms walked into the wedding hall to exchange garlands, marking the beginning of the ceremony. Known for hosting mass weddings of the Ganiga/Vaniya community, the temple upholds a tradition that celebrates equality and minimalism. Couples from Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada and Kasaragod participated in the biannual event. The ceremony began with the grooms receiving blessings from the temple’s Darshana Patris, followed by traditional rituals, including the presentation of saris to the brides and the tying of the mangalsutra. The newlyweds then sought blessings from Goddess Bhagavathi, priests, parents and well-wishers.Temple committee member Gopalakrishna said the mass wedding is held twice a year, during the Pooram Utsav in March-April and the Udayastamana Utsav, usually in Nov. “After a thorough verification process, eligible couples are selected to be part of this ceremony,” he added.
