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)