CEYLON: MASS WEDDING CEREMONY IN TOWNSHIP NEAR COLOMBO

Record ID: 588391

  • Title: CEYLON: MASS WEDDING CEREMONY IN TOWNSHIP NEAR COLOMBO
  • Date: 5th January 1966
  • Summary: COUPLES ARRIVING FOR THE CEREMONY AND A MONK LEADING THE ASSEMBLY IN PRAYERS. Initials DE/S/AW/SA Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th January 1966 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TISSAMAHARAMAYA, NEAR COLOMBO, CEYLON
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Reuters ID: LVA89FAX854W6IMW6RTAIT19E97Y
  • Story Text: AN UNUSUAL WEDDING CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN CEYLON LAST WEEKEND. ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIVE COUPLES, WHO HAD BEEN LIVING TOGETHER FOR VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME AS MAN AND WIFE, HAD THEIR MARRIAGES LEGALISED AT A CEREMONY IN TISSAMAHARAMAYA - A RURAL AREA OF COLOMBO.

    THE CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN A LOCAL SCHOOL. THE PATH UP TO IT WAS GAILY DECORATED. WOMEN PLAYED A STEADY RHYTHM ON THE RABANA (DRUM) - A TRADITIONAL FORM OF REJOICING IN CEYLON.

    AN ASSISTANT GOVERNMENT AGENT, MR. LIONEL FERNANDO, LIT THE OIL LAMP - ANOTHER TRADITIONAL CUSTOM - TO START THE CEREMONY. BUDDHIST MONKS BLESSED THE COUPLES AS THEY CAME FORWARD.

    AGES OF THE COUPLES VARIED FROM 20 TO 80 - AND MANY CARRIED THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR ARMS. THEIR GROW-UP CHILDREN WATCHED THE CEREMONY FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE SCHOOL.

    AS AN INDUCEMENT TO THE COUPLES TO HAVE THEIR MARRIAGES LEGALISED MR. FERNANDO OFFERED EACH COUPLE FIVE ACRES (2.02 HECTARES) OF CROWN LAND. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LAND SHOULD BE USED FOR FOOD CULTIVATION - THUS RELIEVING THE PRESENT FOOD SCARCITY.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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