TTD to conduct mass marriages in US

Hyderabad, April 3 (IANS) The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to conduct mass marriages of Hindus in the US.

The TTD board, which met at Tirumala Tuesday, decided to organise "Kalyanamasthu" in the US from April 28 to June 2. The programme will be held at 10 different locations in the US including San Jose, New Jersey, Dallas, Arizona, Detroit and Seattle, said a statement from TTD.

After successful conduct of several rounds of the mass marriages programme in Andhra Pradesh over the last four years, the TTD, which manages the affairs of the famous Tirumala temple, decided to extend it to the US and other countries.

The body, which looks after India's richest Hindu temple, also plans to hold "Kalyanamasthu" in Singapore, Japan, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

It also decided to conduct "Kalyanamasthu" at 11 more temples in Andhra Pradesh on two dates in a year.

Launched four years ago, the programme is aimed at strengthening the Hindu marriage system and to help the poor Hindu families perform the marriages of their children in accordance with Hindu traditions.

TTD officials said the mass marriages were aimed at creating awareness among Hindus to curb wasteful expenditure and discourage conversions as socially and economically backwards Hindus often become targets.