Ranchi, June 18: A nondescript small village in Jharkhand, Dimbudih, was completely overhauled to bear a bridal look to host the marriage of state Home Minister Sudesh Mahto, who tied the nuptial knot with a law
graduate at a function in a village at Dibudih, some 47 kms
from here today.
Many of the 'Who's who' of the state along with some of the political bigwigs of the country including Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and senior BJP leader L K Advani graced the occasion but, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda did not
attend the function as he was indisposed.
Mahto was also incharge of Road Construction, Sports and Youth Affairs and Culture Departments. State Road Construction officials worked overtime to construct new roads, Energy Department employees erected electric poles, intelligence sleuths and senior police personnel made tight security arrangements at the venue, which falls in the Naxal-infested zone, with STF jawans keeping a hawk eye vigil.
Otherwise little-known Dimbudih, with a population of a little over a thousand, had of late no good contact roads, no electric supply. But with the announcement of the much hyped marriage almost a month ago, lakhs of rupees from the state fund has been spent to give it a facelift.
Sources close to the minister had earlier said that the marriage procession would start from Mahto's paternal village, Lagam which was under Silli Police Station area of Ranchi and would cover a distance of about 45 kms to reach Dimbudih.
They said a reception party would be organised on June 20 at Lagam village. In both the marriage and reception more than 50 thousand persons were expected to participate.
''We have distributed a limited number of cards but are well aware that a large number of party activists and common people will come. We have kept this fact in mind while planning for food arrangements. In the marriage the bride side will arrange dinner in the manner that suits them but in reception we will follow a traditional 'desi' style of serving food. We have hired six hundred local cooks and confectioners to prepare food and sweets. We will serve mainly rice and red meat, which is a tradition in this part of the country. One thing is for sure that we won't follow buffet system,'' the sources added.
Prior to the wedding, the to be father-in-law of the minister, a College Principal by profession, Umesh Chandra Mahto, was busy with the preparations in his village. A big water proof pandal was being erected in the courtyard of his old house for the main marriage ceremony and ten giant pandals of 120 meter into 40 meter were being prepared in a nearby ground for the marriage party. For this work, more than a hundred labourers were engaged for over a fortnight.
Bureau Report