30 homeless couples join mass marriage
30 homeless couples join mass marriage
JAKARTA (JP): More than 30 homeless couples, dressed in white, gathered at the Senen district auditorium in Central Jakarta yesterday to legalize their marriages.
The mass marriage was sponsored by a student forum of the Assyafi'iyah Islamic University, Jakarta, to help those who could not afford a formal wedding on their own.
Chairman of the organizing committee, Agil, said that five of the couples who had registered to take part in the ceremony did not come yesterday.
"The ceremony was held in cooperation with the Senen district and the local office of the religious affairs department," he said. The ceremony cost Rp 4 million, donated by both individuals and organizations, he added.
The brides, who wore white blouses and skirts and clutched violet orchid bouquets to their chests. The grooms wore white shirts, black trousers and kopiah caps.
Sapariah, a 50-year-old participant, told The Jakarta Post that her wedding had been performed before by ulemas, but it had not previously been formalized by government officials.
"We've been married for years, but we decided to do it again as a re-registration formality," she said.
Sapariah, a vendor at the Senen bus station, is married to Sutrisno, 62 who also works at the terminal. She said students of the university informed the her and other residents of the Senen area about the free-of-charge wedding ceremony.
Hasan, 20, and Yuli, 16, said they were getting married "again" for the same reason.
"Actually we already have a five-month-old child but we still want to participate in this program," Hasan said.
Hasan, who sells cigarettes at the Senen bus terminal, did not answer when the Post asked his reason for taking part in the ceremony. He just smiled.
Agil said one couple was married by the father of the groom, who was also married on the same day.
"I think that one was the funniest marriage ceremony," he added.
The committee also handed over money and food to the couples to make up for income they missed out on by not working yesterday, Agil said.
He said that the purpose of the ceremony was to commemorate the golden anniversary of the Indonesian republic and to "lessen their sins." (05)