“I refused to solemnize the marriages as I know child marriage is a crime,” said Indra. “I also suggest other people not to support child marriages,” he added. [break]
Indra is not the only priest who is against child marriages. Many priests in Surkhet do not attend child marriages as they are against the ill-practice.
Another priest Parashuram Poudel, of Jarbuta-1, said he first asks the age of the bride and groom before solemnizing any marriage.
“I try to convince the bride and groom not to tie to knot if I find them underage,” said Parshuram. He also said that he had refused to observe a marriage as the bridge and groom had not reached the legal age for marriage.
Ramlal Gautam, of Birendranagar-10, however, complained that child marriages were still taking place as the boys and girls, who have not reached marriageable age, have been solemnizing their marriages in temples.
“Now the priests in the temples should also be made aware about the ill-effects of child marriages,” said Gautam.
Min Prasad Kafle, a priest working in Latikoili, said that he enquires about the age of bride and groom before solemnizing any marriage. Kafle, who has solemnized over 500 marriages, accepted that 50 of them were child marriages.
With the aim of making Surkhet a child marriage free district by 2015, the District Children Welfare Committee has been leading the campaign against child marriages by conducting various programs.
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