On the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri, on Friday, March 8, carrying forward the tradition and legacy of past years, a grand festival, wherein 151 economically backward and marginalised women will be married off, will take place at Bageshwar Dham, which is the centre of faith for millions of people, both and India and abroad. Though religious functions and celebrations are organised at Bageshwar Dham all-round the year, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, destitute young girls are married off by the Peethadheeshwar, Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.
Kicking off the grand celebrations, Shastri Ji will recite a Katha at the Dham itself, which will be enjoyed by the devotees from February 14 to February 20. This will be followed by a Katha based on the theme ‘Apne Apne Ram’, recited by poet Dr Kumar Vishwas, from February 27 to 29.
In a press conference organised at the Dham on Sunday, February 11, Shastri Ji offered a gist of the programme schedule to the media. Giving important information, he said that Dr Vishwas’s Katha will take place from 4 PM to 7 PM on the given dates; and from March 1 to 7, a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha will be recited by renowned Katha Vachak, Indresh Upadhyay Ji. Devotees of Bageshwar Dham from the world over will witness these religious programmes and the grand marriage festival of 151 women on March 8, 2024.
While Shastri Ji met with the girls who were married off last year, and checked in on them; he also appealed to the followers of Sanatana Dharma and social workers, to attend these programmes to be held at Bageshwar Dham.
On March 8, 151 girls from 6 states of India will be married off, and out of the girls who have been chosen for the same, 75 are from Chhatarpur district, 14 from Panna, 10 from Tikamgarh, 7 from Damoh, Jhansi, and Mahoba each, 4 are from Sagar and Satna each. 10 differently abled girls are also a part of this group of girls. Apart from this, 24 of them are orphans, 59 have lost their fathers, and 10 do not have their mothers with them anymore. 48 extremely poor girls will also be getting married.
The Dham will be gifting a motorcycle each to all the couples, and the wedding attires will also be gifted to them well in time so that they could come prepared on their big day.
