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In the quiescent colony of Padanthorai adjacent Gudalur connected the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, a singular communicative of anticipation and togetherness unfolded connected Sunday (April 5, 2026). The sleepy hamlet turned into a vibrant solemnisation of unity arsenic hundreds gathered to witnesser a life-changing infinitesimal for many.
A wide wedding organised jointly by the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) and Padanthorai Markaz saw arsenic galore arsenic 850 couples from underprivileged backgrounds statesman their joined lives together.
Reflecting a tone of inclusiveness, 34 non-Muslim couples were besides portion of the celebration, with their weddings solemnised astatine the Padanthorai Mariamman Temple.
A clergyman starring a matrimony astatine Padanthorai Mariamman Temple connected Sunday. | Photo Credit: SAKEER HUSSAIN
The organisers besides provided wedding attire for each and golden ornaments for the brides.
For respective years now, Padanthorai has upheld the contented of wide weddings offering anticipation and dignity to those successful need. This year, however, it became portion of the centenary celebrations of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama organised by the Sunni radical led by Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar.
Mr. Aboobacker Musliar inaugurated the function. Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama president E. Sulaiman Musliar presided implicit the ceremony.
A conception of the grooms posing for a photograph aft their wedding astatine Padanthorai connected Sunday. | Photo Credit: SAKEER HUSSAIN
The relation brought unneurotic plantation workers and labourers from the Nilgiris on with dozens of brides and grooms from Kerala and Karnataka. “This is 1 of the finest examples of our land’s communal harmony and brotherhood,” said SYS person Abdul Hakeem Azhari.
Nearly 1 lakh people, including relatives, friends and well-wishers, gathered to witnesser the ceremony. A wedding feast was arranged for all.
The assemblage that witnessed the wide wedding held astatine Padanthorai connected Sunday. | Photo Credit: SAKEER HUSSAIN
The roots of this inaugural hint backmost to 2014, erstwhile student Devarshola Abdul Salam Musliar acceptable retired to enactment those struggling to wed owed to fiscal hardships.
What began with 114 couples that twelvemonth gradually grew into a almighty movement, with akin wide weddings held successful 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023. Over the past 12 years, astir 2,000 couples person joined done this initiative.
This year’s lawsuit was made imaginable done a assemblage effort. The organisers raised ₹4.3 crore successful conscionable 68 hours done crowdfunding utilizing the Kerala Muslim Jamaat’s Sadaqah mobile app.
“We enactment distant a elemental connection of ₹1 per person. We launched the app connected April 1, and wrong a day, ₹1 crore was raised,” they said.
Mr. Aboobacker Musliar felicitated Samastha caput Ponmala Abdul Khadir Musliar for completing 50 years of Dars teaching. Degrees were besides awarded to students who graduated from Padanthorai Markaz.
