Raipur, March 16: Chhattisgarh has scripted history by entering the Golden Book of World Records for the highest number of marriages conducted in a single day under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana. The state achieved this milestone during a grand ceremony on 10 February, where a total of 6,412 couples from various communities tied the knot across the state.
The main event was held at the Science College Ground in the state capital, where Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai personally blessed 1,316 couples. The remaining 5,096 couples joined the historic celebrations virtually from their respective districts. The mega-event was lauded as a symbol of ‘Antyodaya’ and social harmony, featuring couples from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist communities, as well as the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Baiga community, all marrying as per their respective religious customs.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated that the scheme has provided a dignified solution for economically weaker families who often struggle with the financial burden of a daughter’s marriage. Under the initiative, each newlywed couple received financial assistance of ₹35,000. The Chief Minister also used the platform to launch the ‘Kuposhan Mukt Chhattisgarh Abhiyan’ (Malnutrition-Free Chhattisgarh Campaign) as a pilot project in eight districts of the Bastar and Surguja divisions.
Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade noted that the scheme, originally launched under the leadership of former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, is being expanded to ensure benefits reach the last person in society. The inclusion of the event in the Golden Book of World Records has given Chhattisgarh a new national identity in the field of public welfare and interfaith unity.