Udaipur, September 20: Physical disability could not stop the dreams of 50 couples who held each other’s hands and took seven sacred vows at the 47th Divyang and Economically Disadvantaged Mass Wedding Ceremony organised by Narayan Seva Sansthan.

A total of 100 brides and grooms from different states were married in 50 couples during the two-day ceremony held on September 19 and 20 at Seva Mahateerth, Badi. Amid Vedic chants, devotional songs and blessings, the newly married couples began their journey into family life.

Where They Found Support, They Also Found Their Life Partners

One of the most emotional aspects of the ceremony was that many of the brides and grooms had previously received free treatment, surgeries, artificial limbs or assistive devices and skill training at Narayan Seva Sansthan.

Many of them had once arrived at the institution seeking treatment and rehabilitation. They have now left the same premises holding the hands of their life partners and preparing to build new homes together.

Some had rebuilt their lives after accidents, while others had chosen the path of self-reliance despite congenital disabilities. At the wedding venue, their identity was not defined by disability but by their new roles as brides and grooms.

Marriage Marks the Beginning of Two Dreams

For young people with disabilities, marriage can involve challenges beyond financial difficulties, including social prejudices, finding a suitable life partner and managing a household.

Narayan Seva Sansthan has sought to connect its mass wedding initiative with rehabilitation and self-reliance rather than limiting it to the marriage ceremony alone.

Prashant Agrawal, president of Narayan Seva Sansthan, said there are currently 2.61 crore people with disabilities in India who continue to face several social barriers and traditional perceptions.

He said people often focus on a person’s disability rather than their abilities. He noted that some couples at the ceremony included a person with a disability choosing an able-bodied person as a life partner and an able-bodied person choosing a person with a disability.

Agrawal said such couples deserve respect for rising above social perceptions and choosing companionship.

He said that over the past 22 years, Narayan Seva Sansthan has facilitated the marriages of 2,582 young people with disabilities.

According to Agrawal, the objective is to provide people with disabilities not sympathy, but dignity, opportunities and a secure future.

New Household, New Beginning

The newly married couples were also provided essential household items to help them begin their family lives.

The items included beds, mattresses, bedding, cupboards, gas stoves and cylinders, kitchen sets, pressure cookers, tawas and kadhais, fans, sewing machines, trolley bags and other daily-use articles.

Wheelchairs and other assistive devices were also provided according to individual needs.

The newly married couples left with household essentials as they began their new lives, carrying not only gifts but also confidence in building their futures with dignity and independence.

Message of Equality

The marriages were solemnised during the two-day event amid Vedic chants, devotional programmes and cultural performances. Saints, social workers, public representatives and guests from India and abroad blessed the newly married couples. Several guests also participated in the wedding rituals as part of Kanyadaan.

Sushila Parihar from a freedom fighter family in Jodhpur was honoured during the ceremony for her compassion and spirit of service.

Yash Mehta, Palak Agrawal, director Vandana Agrawal and co-founder Kamla Devi Agrawal were present on the occasion.

Founder Kailash Manav blessed the couples who entered into marriage.

The 50 couples took seven vows and began 50 new families, sending a message that while physical limitations may create challenges in the journey of life, they cannot limit dreams.

Two Difficult Journeys, One Shared Future

Narayan Lal Meena and Meera Kumari Meena from Kumhari village in Pratapgarh are both persons with disabilities. Their circumstances made life difficult, but by holding each other’s hands, they have now begun their journey together.

Narayan Lal was one year old when an infection in his leg left his right leg shorter. Despite difficulties in walking, he did not give up and started a small grocery shop to support his family.

His disability made it difficult for him to find a marriage match on several occasions. Meera, meanwhile, has a disability affecting her left leg. Along with continuing her studies, she continued helping her family with household work.

Both families were concerned about their children’s marriages. They came to know about Narayan Seva Sansthan’s mass wedding initiative. When Narayan and Meera met, they found in each other a partner who understood their circumstances.

With the consent of their families, the relationship was finalised, and the two were married at the 47th Divyang and Economically Disadvantaged Mass Wedding Ceremony.

The steps that once faced the fear of being left without a companion will now move forward together, supporting each other as they begin a new life.

A Commitment to Walk Together

Gautam Lal Maida from a rural area of Banswara has a disability affecting both legs, while Dhooli Kumari has a disability affecting one leg.

Despite the challenges, both continued to move forward with determination. With the efforts of Narayan Seva Sansthan, their dream of starting a family has become a reality.

They will now begin a new chapter of their lives as partners, supporting each other, facing the challenges of disability together and seeking to live with self-respect while becoming part of the social mainstream.