521 couples tie knot at Leuva Patel mass wedding

RAJKOT: It was a record of sorts as donations poured in on a large scale for a mass wedding of Leuva Patels at Kagvad, some 60km from here, on Wednesday. Over Rs 15 crore were donated to the Khodal Dham Trust within half an hour for the benefit of the community.
On Wednesday, 521 Leuva Patel couples tied the knot at the mass marriage function at Kagvad where community members are building their deity Khodal’s temple.The event was held in the presence of chief minister Anandiben Patel and other community leaders. It was a grand show as thousands of community members had gathered to attend the event.
Among the major donations announced on the occasion was that by Nirma group chairman Karsan Patel who announced a contribution of Rs 5 crore. He joined the Khodal Dham trust as well.
Anandiben Patel appealed to the newlywed couples to fight against the practice of female foeticide and join the ‘Save the girl child’ campaign. “Lets us come together to improve the skewed sex ration in the state,’’ she said in her address.
In a new initiative, the mass marriage organizers also filled up forms of newly married couples pertaining to name transfers in ration card, Adhar card, and marriage registration among others. Fourteen different forms were filled by 521 couples.Khodal Dham trust president Naresh Patel announced that the trust will adopt five villages located near Kagvad and will carry out various developmental works there.
“There will no further program till January 2017 as we will open (have pran pratishtha) the temple that year,’’ he said. Naresh Patel was weighed in silver by his fellow community members and the same silver was given to the trust.
Officials from Asia Book of Records remained present to take note of the biggest mass marriage event among community