Heavy Showers Disrupt Ceremony

A mass wedding ceremony under the Chief Minister’s Kanya Vivah Yojana turned chaotic on Sunday after sudden heavy rain caught organisers unprepared, leaving brides and grooms scrambling for cover in an embarrassing scene that drew sharp criticism from senior leaders.

BJP MLA Dipesh Sahu tied the knot with Taruna Sahu, daughter of a driver, as part of the group wedding involving 21 couples. The event, which was attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and other senior leaders, quickly became a talking point for all the wrong reasons.

Traditional Procession Turns Wet

The celebrations began on a colourful note. All grooms, including the MLA, reached the Circuit House in e-rickshaws. From there, the baraat proceeded in traditional bullock carts amid peri dance performances. However, as the couples sat for the pheras, dark clouds opened up without warning.

With no proper rain cover in place, the situation turned messy. Grooms wearing sehra and brides in their wedding finery had to use whatever was available. Many couples and their families lifted plastic chairs and mattresses from the ground and held them over their heads to shield themselves from the downpour. Some managed with tarpaulin sheets and umbrellas, but the overall arrangement left much to be desired.

Deputy CM Slips, Raman Singh Loses Cool

In a moment caught on camera, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao slipped while trying to board a bullock cart. The visuals added to the embarrassment for the administration.

Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, a former Chief Minister himself, did not hold back. In the presence of the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers, he publicly reprimanded the collector and superintendent of police. 

“I have never seen such mismanagement in my 15 years as Chief Minister,” Dr. Singh said, adding that officials failed to find an alternative venue even after two and a half hours. He remarked that he rarely speaks on such occasions but felt compelled to do so because the entire cabinet was present yet there was no seriousness among officials.

CM Orders Probe

Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai later acknowledged that the sudden rain had affected the arrangements. He said the programme was meant to bless the newly-wed couples and noted that while the old rest house hall could have been used as an alternative, there was little time. The Chief Minister has asked the commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Congress Questions Eligibility

The controversy has given ammunition to the opposition. State Congress president Deepak Baij raised questions over the MLA’s marriage being conducted under the Kanya Vivah Yojana, which is meant for girls from poor and needy families. 

MLA Dipesh Sahu responded by stating that eligibility is based on the bride’s family. He clarified that Taruna belongs to a BPL family and registration was done accordingly.

MLA’s Humble Background

Dipesh Sahu, who taught in a government school for nearly a decade before entering politics, has held several organisational posts in the BJP, including district president of the OBC Morcha. He currently represents the Bemetara assembly segment. 

Taruna Sahu, originally from Birora village in Dhamdha tehsil of Durg district, has completed her MA. Her father Devnarayan Sahu is a driver, and the family currently resides in Bemetara.

MLA Pledges Scholarship Money

In a notable gesture, Sahu announced that he would not keep the financial assistance provided under the scheme for himself. Instead, he will use the amount to support the education of meritorious girl students.

Public Reaction and Significance

The incident has sparked discussion on social media, with images of couples holding chairs and mattresses over their heads going viral. While many appreciated the simplicity of the mass wedding and the MLA’s decision to marry under the government scheme, the poor handling of the rain has drawn criticism.

Mass weddings under the Kanya Vivah Yojana are a flagship programme of the Chhattisgarh government aimed at helping families from economically weaker sections. Such events are usually marked by simplicity and community participation, but Sunday’s episode in Bemetara has highlighted the need for better contingency planning, especially during the monsoon season.

Local residents who attended the event said while the spirit of the ceremony remained intact, the lack of basic arrangements dampened the celebrations.

As the commissioner’s inquiry begins, the episode is likely to serve as a reminder for district administrations to be better prepared for weather uncertainties during large public events.