A matrimonial meet organised exclusively for senior citizens saw the participation of over 250 aspirants looking for companions. The Jeevan Saathi Sammelan organised here on Sunday was meant for people above the age of 50.
Among the many participants was a 14-year-old girl carefully listening to the announcements being made by the organisers about the prospective grooms. She was seen jotting down details and phone numbers.
When asked, she said she had come to the event looking for a groom for her mother. “I have been looking forward to this event from the past fortnight. I have shortlisted three prospective grooms. However, the final decision is up to my mother,” she said, seeking anonymity.
Good response
As many as 195 men and 69 ladies, several of them single, separated, widowers and widows, were part of a unique matrimonial meet for senior citizens.
The event was divided in two sessions. In the introductory session, the organisers introduced participants, while the second half was a networking session where participants could interact with each other.
Dodaiah V., a retired engineer (75), announced that he was looking for a live-in relationship with a woman aged anywhere between 50 and 60.
“My wife passed away two years ago and I am in need of a companion, so I decided to participate in the event. However, I do not want to get married again.” In stark contrast to Dodaiah was another participant, Uliveppa (62), a chilli farmer from Byadagi in Haveri district.
Apprehensive and nervous, Uliveppa, a widower, said that he got to know about the event from an article in a newspaper. “I wanted to see the response that this event would generate. So without informing anybody, I came to the city to attend the event,” he said.
Asked if he found any prospective brides, Uliveppa, in choked voice, said, “I am not yet sure if I want to get married again. But I feel lonely and my son and daughter-in-law do not take good care of me. So I decided to come for the event and I am glad I came.”
After the introductory session, several couples exchanged their biodata and phone numbers, while some others chose to have a brief interaction at the venue.
One of the organisers, Bipin Mehta, secretary of the Samyukt Gujarati Samaj (Karnataka), said, “I am not sure if people who meet here would end up getting married, but the fact that so many people turned up is a positive sign. I am happy that many senior citizens are thinking of this and are coming out of their shell,” he said.
The organisers added that a similar event would be conducted in Chennai on February 16.
