Karnataka Minister H Anjaneyulu's daughter married in a mass wedding ceremony
The daughter of a Karnataka minister inspected many five-star hotels in Bengaluru for her wedding before settling for a venue that she shared with 96 other couples last Wednesday.
At a time the state government has proposed a tax on lavish weddings, H Anjaneyulu, the Social Welfare Minister, insisted that his daughter should marry in a mass wedding ceremony.
"I have been a poor man. Now I may have a lot of wealth, a house, a big car. But there is no point in being social welfare minister if I organized a grand wedding," the minister told NDTV.
Anupama, his daughter, got no gifts or jewellery from her parents and bought just one sari for the ceremony. For lunch, guests were served a simple fare of rice, sambhar and payasam.
The minister did gift cows to 55 poor families who had also come for the weddings.
The minister's gesture was received with skepticism and some irritation by friends and relatives.
Even Anupama had to be talked into dedicating one of the biggest moments of her life to a political message. She reportedly considered many hotels and party venues before giving in to her father's suggestion - a mass wedding at his hometown Chitradurga.
"She was happy and so was the groom. The Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) also came for the wedding. He was happy. We gave away cows to many farmers. That is more worthy than a wasteful reception," Mr Anjaneyulu said.
The state government has said that big weddings involving more than 1,000 guests or an expenditure of over five lakhs will be taxed and the money will be used for mass ceremonies, where inter-caste couples will be rewarded Rs 25 lakh.
Asked whether he would advise other politicians to follow his example, the minister said, "I can't tell other legislators and ministers. It is for them to see. And learn of they wish to. I only say be simple, live a simple life."