Some of them came in the best outfits they could manage for the big day. Like Devji Kothi was dressed in tattered jeans, shirt and a pair of sleepers. Devji was all smiles as this was a big milestone in his life for he was going to wed his companion of four years. Devji and his wife Lata have three-year-old son.

Pandit, however, clarifies that not all of those who registered for the mass marriage were already living together as husband and wives. Many of them are couples who would start living together only after the marriage. The couples getting married before having any children were eligible for a grant of Rs 10,000 from the Tribal Development department.

“I am requesting the state to release the grants also to those couples having children. Let these people also live with dignity they deserve,” said Pandit.

Unlike Hindus where a male priest conducts the marriage ceremony, the tirbals marriage is conducted by females known as Davlerin, who perform the ritual by singing and holding their deity, a lamp, in their hand. At Dahanu, six Davlerins solemnised the marriage of the 470 couples.