Bhadrak: An educated girl set an example of sorts for others by marrying a differently abled person on the premises of Balgopal temple here Sunday.
The marriage was organised by Orissa Bikalanga Manch, an outfit working for persons with disabilities.
The marriage drew hundreds of locals while scores of differently abled persons from various parts of the district were in attendance.
Milan Kumar Das, a diminutive man from Nadigaon near Dhusuri, with crutches and a wheel chair on his side, was attired as groom. Milan has four siblings- three brothers and a sister. His elder brother is hale and hearty, but stays away from his siblings.
His brother Chandan and sister Mamatarani, who are disabled, were also present on the occasion. Milan’s father Sanyasicharan Das is paralysed while his mother Laxmipriya is cancer-afflicted.
Attired as the bride was Annapurna Das of Dasrathpur in Jajpur district. After completing her Plus-III and PG in Computer Science, she was working as an instructor at a computer institute.
Some activists of Orissa Bikalanga Manch moved the marriage proposal of Milan to Annapurna, who agreed to it without any hesitation.
The temple was abuzz with chanting of mantras by priests. The entire atmosphere was reverberated with the blowing of conches and ululation by women folks.
After the marriage, Annapurna with a beaming smile said, “I am extremely happy for marrying Milan. There is need for pure mentality to make marriage move forward.”
Members of both the families, district social welfare officer Shibram Dhal, CRSR Bhagban Parida, president of Orissa Bikalanga Manch Niranjan Behera and several other persons graced the occasion.
The district social welfare officer announced that the couple will be provided government incentives. PNN
