Madikeri: The Lakshminarasimha Kalyana Mantapa that housed flood-affected people in the town, had turned into a wedding venue on Sunday. Emotions ran high at the Mantapa when Manjula, a survivor of the floods, tied the knot with Rajeesh, a Kerala groom with family and strangers wishing the couple.

Manjula’s family had fixed her wedding on August 26 with Rajeesh. But as the cruel fate would have it, they lost everything they had in the floods that ravaged the district. The family had lost all hopes of arranging Manjula’s marriage.

They had even contemplated on canceling it. However, after media reports highlighted Manjula’s plight, several came forward and donated to help the family realise their dream. Some of the volunteer groups contacted Rajeesh’s family for the wedding.

To their surprise, Rajeesh’s family responded positively, reports The Times of India. The friends and families of Manjula were invited via WhatsApp and the wedding was fixed at Omkareshwara temple on Sunday.

Despite the sorrow, every one of them in the relief centre took part in the wedding celebrations that included even mehndi on Saturday.

“This wedding is beyond my wildest imagination,” reports The Times of India quoting Manjula. Manjula’s family was in tears when they saw help pouring in from various quarters.

Her family thanked everyone who chipped in their bit for the wedding. It is reported that Food and Civil Supplies Minister Zameer Ahmed donated Rs 50,000 for the wedding during his visit to Madikeri on Saturday. Kodagu Deputy Commissioner PI Sreevidya wished the newly-wed couple.

SOURCE : http://www.bfirst.in/category/state/hope-amid-despair-kodagu-flood-survivor-marries-at-relief-centre-511583