Indore: World came crashing down for 19-year-old Divya Joshi when her ailing mother passed away four months back leaving her orphan. On Sunday, she was getting married to the man her mother had chosen before leaving for heavenly adobe. A few hours before the marriage ceremony started, staffers of PMB Gujarati Science College thronged the venue dancing on the beats of drums celebrating the wedding.
It may appear a scene straight from a Bollywood flick but the college employees turned up as family members and relatives of the orphan girl who was among other couples that took wedding vows during mass marriage performed on Vasant Panchmani at Gomatgiri under Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana.
The college’s staff performed ‘mamera’ ritual for the poor girl, a ritual in which gifts are given to nieces and nephews during their weddings. The girl who was not having even one saree for wedding got as many as 21 sarees, gold and jewellery, utensils, electronic items, furniture etc.
“All the gifts were collected at the college campus on Saturday and presented to the girl during her wedding,” college teacher Rishina Nathu. She said Divya’s mother Mangla Joshi was an employee of Gujarati College. She worked as peon for 22 years before she died of cancer. All her provident fund and savings were spent on her treatment but she could not be saved. After her death, Divya was left alone.
On Friday, senior peon Purshottam Sharma informed college employees that Mangla’s daughter is getting married on Sunday. He told them that her wedding would be held under government scheme but she does not have anybody in the family to perform ‘mamera’.
He also requested the college employees to give gifts to her, if possible. Next day, the administrative office was filled with 100 of gifts for the girl. The college employees presented the gifts to the girl and blessed her. They told her in-laws that she is not alone. Her in-laws work in Gujarati college.
