37 pairs enter wedlock in Bamyan mass marriage

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): A mass marriage ceremony involving 37 pairs was held in central Bamyan province on Sunday, thanks to the Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC)’s financial help.

The ceremony was attended by Bamyan governor Mohammad Tahir Zuhair, head of the youth department at MoIC, Dr. Kamal Sadat, provincial council members, officials and relatives of the couples.

The aim of the mass marriage program was support to couples who were unable to afford their wedding.

Dr. Kamal Sadat said negative traditions including costly dowries prevented many couples from beginning a joint life.

He congratulated the couples on their marriages and said the MoIC was trying to remove bad culture by holding such programs in future.

Governor Mohammad Tahir Zuhair asked families to avoid fixing high dowries and unnecessary expenditures that forced the youth to leave the country in search of work abroad.

He said dowry costs were very high in Bamyan, asking families to put an end to the negative tradition and reduce the costs.

Ali, a resident of Waras district of Bamyan and a groom, said most of the couples could not hold their wedding parties due to their economic problems after their engagements.

He said some youth were even obliged to travel abroad for working and earn money and then held their wedding.

mds/ma