KANPUR: Kanpur Dehat district administration is all set to organise an eco-friendly wedding for 159 couples under chief minister mass marriage scheme at the Eco-Friendly Park in Mati on Friday.
There is a tradition to give traditional gifts to newly married couples during their wedding ceremony. However, this time along with the traditional gifts, they would also be given a sapling of ‘sahjan’ (drumstick plant) at their wedding ceremony, informed chief development officer Kanpur Dehat Saumya Pandey.
“The core objective of the initiative is to make couples, besides the gathering, to thank and think about nature. With the help of the social welfare and forest department and others, a special counter has been arranged in front of the stage to distribute saplings of ‘sahjan’ to all 159 couples,” she told TOI.
A selfie point is also being set up at the mass wedding venue this time for newly married couples, the official informed further.
A forest department official said that drumstick plant (Moringa oleifera) also known as sahjan in Hindi is a very common vegetable of our country.
“But most of us are unaware about the amazing health benefits of this plant. It is known all over the world for its nutritious leafy-greens, flower buds, and mineral-rich green fruit pods. The drumsticks are packed with proteins, vitamins, minerals, anti- oxidants and all these nutrients that are vital for the growing baby,” he said.
Also, the occasion, which is going to be memorable, will certainly increase our green cover, he said. “All couples will be requested during the ceremony to plant them in their premises and water them regularly,” he added.
“Though the distribution of saplings is the main draw of the chief minister mass marriage programme, the new generation usually gets attracted towards the fun, fair and other activities on such occasions. Keeping this in view, we have created an exclusive spot for clicking selfies in a bid to make people aware and popularise the CM mass marriage scheme,” said the CDO further.