Low-cost mass weddings provide financial relief for Afghan couples

In a bid to alleviate the financial burden of traditional weddings, a mass wedding ceremony involving 50 couples took place in Afghanistan. These ceremonies have become increasingly popular for low-income couples who struggle with the high costs associated with a traditional wedding. The brides were kept secluded until after lunch, when they made their appearance. Organized by a charity, the event provided the newlyweds with essential household items such as carpets and appliances to start their married lives. The ministry for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice also had a representative speak at the ceremony. While the recitation of verses from the Koran took place, dancing and music, both prohibited activities under the Taliban rule since August 2021, were absent. The couples were then joyfully transported away in cars adorned with green ribbons and heart-shaped red plastic roses. Roohullah Rezayi, an 18-year-old from the Hazara Shia Muslim minority in Ghor province, expressed that without the mass wedding, a traditional ceremony would have been financially impossible for him and his bride. The affordable alternative allowed the couple to reduce their wedding costs from an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 Afghanis ($2,800 to $3,600) to just 10,000 and 15,000 Afghanis. Rezayi, who earns a meager income doing odd jobs, further explained that the guest list was limited to 35 people from both families to maintain affordability. Some grooms, like 23-year-old farmer Samiullah Zamani from Kabul province, had been waiting for this day for years and were thrilled for the long-awaited celebration of love.