Author: PTI
Publication: NewKerala.com
Date: February 23, 2007
URL: http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=108831
One of the prime objectives of the mass marriages
performed by the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) was to bring Dalits
into Hindu fold while re-kindling their faith in ancient Vedic culture, TTD
board chairman K Karunakara Reddy said here today.
"Some status-quoists of the society maintained
the spiritual and social ostracisation of the Dalit and Tribal sections for
centuries for their vested interests. Thus, the marginalised masses considered
themselves outside the elated Vedic culture, which originally preaches egalitarianism,"
he told reporters.
As part of its "mission" of getting
two lakh poor couples tie the nuptial knot annually under "Kalyanamasthu",
TTD yesterday conducted 4,654 marriages in its 293 centres across Andhra Pradesh.
"TTD's unprecedented and historic endeavour
has a strong connotation of checking the religious conversions also,"
Reddy said.
According to him, the downtrodden sections
were certainly allured for even meagre benefits to change their religion.
"Almighty's message of equality, oneness
has been deliberately kept aloof from them. TTD has initiated to spread the
Lord's message and Kalyanamasthu was the first step," he averred.
He announced that the second phase of similar
marriages will be held on August 26 and asked people to get registered for
it with self-affidavits.
