-
Is TTD planning to scrap Kalyanamastu? - Hyderabad - Cities - The Times of India
- TIRUPATI
- Speculation is rife that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) could bring down the curtains on its popular Kalyanamastu, the free mass marriages programme. The TTD has performed nearly 25,000 free mass marriages since its launch in 2007.
Sources said apart from political and financial factors behind the proposal, its chairman D K Adikeshavulu Naidu is reported to be reluctant to continue the programme. According to sources, the TTD board chief is more interested in implementing his pet scheme, `Ananda Nilayam Anantha Swarnamayam,' the gold covering of the sanctum sanctorum, than Kalyanamastu. - The programme, which was the brainchild of former TTD board chief B Karunakar Reddy, was launched on February 22, 2007, wherein 4,658 couples tied the knot all over the state. "The primary goal of Kalyanamastu is to strengthen the Hindu marriage system and to lessen the burden of marriage expenses on those who could not afford high costs," an insider of Karunakar camp said.
- Following a huge response, the TTD has set up a trust seeking donations for the implementation of the scheme and even planned to extend it to other religions having faith in Hindu tradition and Lord Balaji.
-
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
