In this modern era, wedding tends to be portrayed as an extravagant event. Whether it was held as a big or small ceremony, most of us know/realise that it costs a lot of money to get married. This is known to be a fact as some of the expenses needed are due to legal documentations for the marriage. Based on this fact, Indonesian Government held a mass wedding in Jakarta to help those who struggles financially to get married.
Held on New Year’s Eve in the capital Jakarta, over 500 couples tie the knot under the tent. Even in the pouring rain, these couples are overjoyed having been able to get married legally since most of them do not have official documents such as birth or marriage certificates. Therefore, the mass wedding was initiated to help these families so that their status are recognised by the government.
New Year's Eve was chosen so that,
"if they celebrate their wedding, everyone will celebrate it. The whole world",
said Anies Baswedan the Governor of Jakarta.
Rohilah, one of the bride wedded at the event, stated that she was so happy that her marriage of 5 years with her husband under Islamic law is now legalised. With a legally recognised marriage, she can finally make a birth certificate for her 4 year old daughter, and her family can access public services such as healthcare and education. Couples with various range of age wed together in that night, with the oldest age of bride and groom recorded at the event was 65 and 76 years old, while the youngest was 19.
Out of respect to the victims of recent disasters in the archipelago, the government cancelled the fireworks show. Instead, as a form of celebration, this mass wedding held in Jakarta is their way to commemorate and welcoming 2019.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com, thejakartapost.com