Mass weddings cut costs
2005-07-29 20:34
Damascus - In front of 25 000 well-wishers, 112 Syrian Muslim and Christian couples have tied the knot at an open air mass celebration in Damascus organised to encourage marriages despite heavy wedding costs.
Thursday night's mass wedding was held in northwestern Damascus' Qaboon suburb and cost $29 000, which was donated by charity organisations. Muslim and Christian clergymen were among those attending the wedding that brought together couples from all over Syria.
"I'm happy to be one of these bridegrooms in this mass wedding and my bride is happy too," said Jan Nashwati, a 34-yaer-old Christian.
Mustapha Abdul-Rahman, 25, a bridegroom from Edlib in northern Syria, said such a service "would help couples start their marital life".
Couples participating in the mass wedding were offered electrical devices and home appliances as wedding gifts.
Mass weddings have become a widespread phenomena in Syria as couples struggle to deal with the high costs of weddings, which can run up to an average of $20 000.
- AP