Bhubaneswar: In a major initiative to support economically weaker families, 110 couples tied the knot at a mass marriage ceremony under the state government’s Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana.
The couples were married following traditional Vedic rituals in a collective ceremony, where 55 pairs shared a single mandap and exchanged vows in the presence of family members and officials. The event aimed to provide a dignified platform for couples who face financial challenges in organising their weddings.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida attended the ceremony and blessed the newlyweds. She described the event as a significant step towards safeguarding the dignity and self-respect of women and strengthening social support systems for families in need.
Addressing the gathering, Parida called upon society to work towards improving the status of women, preventing child marriage, promoting widow remarriage and reducing gender inequality. She also thanked Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for launching the scheme and enabling such initiatives.
The ceremony marked the second phase of the programme, following the first mass marriage event held earlier in Ganjam district. Similar events were also organised in Sundargarh on the same day to extend the initiative across the state.
Launched earlier in 2026, the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana provides financial assistance of about Rs 60,000 to each eligible bride to support marriage expenses, while also promoting dowry-free marriages and marriage registration.
Many newly married couples expressed gratitude to the government, saying the scheme had eased their financial burden and helped them begin their new lives with dignity.
The state government has earmarked about Rs 12 crore annually for the programme, with a total allocation of nearly Rs 60 crore over five years (2025–26 to 2029–30) to benefit families across Odisha.
