In the crowded premises of Cheravally Muslim Jamath mosque, Anju, daughter of Bindu and Ashokan, and Sarath, tied the knot in a ceremony that was lauded as an example of the kind of communal amity that prevailed in Kerala. The marriage was organised in a fully Hindu tradition; the bride, draped in a pink and gold sari, exchanged garlands with the groom, clad in white shirt and mundu, in the presence of a priest. A ceremonial tent was set up in the premises of the mosque to welcome visitors, and a vegetarian sadya was arranged.

Anju and Sarath tied the knot between 11:30am and 12:30pm. After the death of husband Ashokan two years ago, Bindu has been struggling with financial liabilities and was staying at a rented house with her three children. As she was struggling to source money to conduct daughter Anju's wedding, her neighbour, a Jamaath secretary, suggested she approach the Jamaath committee. Bindu did not worry about religious differences when she sought help, and the Jamaath committee was open to assistance. One of the members offered to bear the wedding expenses. Believers, who came for Friday prayers last week, were informed about this and they too lent their support.

"The mosque committee will gift 10 sovereigns of gold and Rs two lakh to Anju as a wedding gift. The marriage will take place according to the Hindu rituals. We have also arranged food for around 1,000 people," secretary of Cheruvally Jamaat committee Nujumudeen Alummoottil told PTI.

"I've personally helped their younger child study. This time, the request was given to the mosque committee as the expenses for a marriage are quite high. So, the committee decided to assist the family," Nujumudeen said.



-Inputs from PTI