55-year-old Ramlal Munda and 45-year-old Sohodari Devi have lived together for 22 long years as a couple. But, impoverished as they are, going through actual marriage ritual, which would establish their legal bonafides in their tribal community has not been possible for them, as also for many others.
With the 5-month-old witness, who is Munda’s grandchild, the couple tied the knot with support of their kids, grandchildren and society.
Just like Ramlal and Sohodari, 131 other couples of the State who have been staying in a live-in relationship with their partners for many years, finally got married in a mass marriage ceremony held on January 14, at Ranchi.
Of the 132 couples, 76 are Sarna (worshippers of nature), 36 Hindus and 20 Christians. The age of these couples ranges from 24 to 40 years. These couples are from Khunti and Torpa block of Khunti district and Basia, Ghaghra, Sisai and Palkot block of Gumla.
Thanks to organisations such as Coal India Limited (CIL) Punjab National Bank and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) — all brought together by Nimitta, an NGO.
Live in relationships or Dhukni/Dhukua is a common aspect of the tribal society of Jharkhand. Those extremely poor people, who are unable to finance their wedding and organize a fest for the village to mark the wedding start living together without marriage.
