VIJAYAPURA: Gender equality took a giant leap as brides and grooms tied mangalsutra around each other's necks in the district's Muddebihal taluk on Monday. Other firsts at the wedding included saying 'no' to kanyaadaan, muhurtam, and blessing the couples with a shower of petals, and not coloured rice grains (akshate kaalu).Duddagi and Baragundi families from the district organized inter-caste weddings at Hallur Palace in Nalatawad village on Monday as per rituals enunciated by 12th-century social reformer Basavanna's gender-equality principle.The grooms belong to Haalumutt community and brides are Banajiga. As soon as the mangalsutra was tied in the traditional manner, the brides immediately took charge and returned the favours by tying mangalsutra around the grooms' neck. Just then, thousands of well-wishers blessed the couples - Amit and Priya; Prabhuraj and Ankita - with a shower of petals since akshata (coloured rice grains) was banned. Also, there was no muhurtam fixed for the weddings.The marriage was attended by Ilakal guru Mahantesh Swami, Lingasagur Vijay Mahantesh Mutt Siddhalinga Swami, Guledagudda Basavaraj Devaru, Mahant Teertha seer, Satti Mutt's Basavalinga Swami and Madara Chennaiah Guru Peetha's Basava Murty.Basavamurty Sharanaru said those who squabble endlessly in the name of caste and religion should learn from this marriage. The Ilakal seer said equality reigned in this wedding, referring to both boy and girl tying the mangalsutra to each other. The pontiff said doing away with the ritual of kanyaadaan symbolized the rejection of hierarchical societies.A poetry collection edited by Chandrashekhar Vastrad was released on the occasion. Copies of 'Vachana Sudhe - Lingayat Dharma' were distributed to the attendees.

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