Kerala halts male entries as 3,000 men, only 200 women enrol for mass wedding

Payyavoor Grama Panchayat in Kerala’s Kannur district has launched a mass wedding initiative to help young people get married, but the response has been strikingly uneven.

The programme, titled Payyavoor Mangalyam, invites men and women of all castes and religions to register for a mass wedding.

Panchayat officials said the idea was to support youngsters who find marriage increasingly difficult because of rising financial pressures, shifting social expectations and changing personal priorities.

Since applications opened, more than 3,000 men have registered, compared to only about 200 women. The imbalance has been so stark that the panchayat has temporarily stopped accepting applications from men, while continuing to welcome women’s registrations.

Officials noted that some of the applications have even arrived from neighbouring districts, reflecting the scale of interest.

However, while more than 3,000 men rushed to apply, only around 200 women came forward. Applications even poured in from neighbouring districts. Faced with the imbalance, authorities have stopped accepting registrations from men but kept the window open for women.

The application form, shared widely on social media, can also be submitted through the Singles Women’s Welfare Association to make the process easier for women.

Panchayat president Saju Xavier said preparations are underway to host the mass wedding this October, adding that the aim remains to help young couples overcome financial barriers and start their married lives with community support.

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