93 couples tie the knot during free mass marriage ceremony at M.M. Hills

As many as 93 couples entered into wedlock at the famed Male Mahadeshwara Hills (M.M. Hills) on Monday during a free mass marriage ceremony organised by the Male Mahadeshwara Temple Development Authority.

Presiding over the event, MLA for Hanur M.R. Manjunath said that since 1989, 2,024 couples have been married through such mass weddings at the shrine. With the Chief Minister’s support, several developmental works were under way at the hill temple to provide better facilities for the large number of devotees visiting during fairs and new moon days, he added.

He announced that ₹20 crore has been sanctioned for concrete road works in villages around the shrine, while electricity has already been supplied to Polar village, and efforts were on to connect other habitations on forest fringes.

Delivering a benediction, Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Math said it was auspicious for the couples to begin their married life in the holy shrine and recalled that 1,931 couples had earlier been married at the shrine.

Shanta Mallikarjunaswamy of Saluru Bruhanmath said the temple has been contributing to society through social and educational activities and has consistently organised mass marriages.

MLA for Mettur Sadashivam, District Guarantee Schemes Authority Chairman H.V. Chandru, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Mona Roth, Superintendent of Police B.T. Kavitha, temple authority secretary A.E. Raghu, and others were present.