Twenty-four young couples who were unable to solemnize their wedding ceremonies were united in marriage in a mass wedding sponsored by a generous religious scholar in Ghazni province in central Afghanistan.
In a mass wedding ceremony held on July 18 in the province of Ghazni, dozens of Afghan brides who had been covered in adorned, shimmering green shawls married young Afghan grooms.
Marriage is an expensive ceremony is profoundly impoverished Afghanistan, with hefty dowries, extravagant presents, and lavish parties.
Financially strapped couples in Afghanistan have traditionally opted to merge their resources in low-cost, large-scale weddings.
A single-day reservation at a wedding hall, according to sources, costs between $10,000 and $20,000, and some engaged couples had to wait for years because of the crippling cost given the unemployment rate.
A groom, who wished to remain anonymous, told Khaama Press that many Afghans are unable to marry because the bride’s family has many expectations, and the demands from the groom’s family are so high that a person cannot afford to marry for many years.
In addition to expressing gratitude, the couples emphasize the culturalization of collective marriages and advise families to avoid incurring disproportionately high wedding expenses.
