KABUL (SW) – A mass wedding ceremony for 30 couples was held on Tuesday, in Kabul, organized by the Seelab Charity Foundation.
Sayed Ahmad Seelab, the head of the foundation, said that the event aims to eliminate harmful cultural practices in society and promote group weddings.
He added, “The Seelab Charity Foundation is committed to combating the excessive costs and unreasonable customs associated with weddings by organizing group ceremonies for young people. Today, we held a group wedding for 60 young individuals from various ethnic backgrounds.”
Officials from the foundation announced that each couple would receive 158 household items, including beds, washing machines, blankets, and other essentials.
Some of the newlyweds expressed that they had remained engaged for years due to economic difficulties, which prevented them from organizing their weddings.
Abdulmunim, a groom who had been engaged for seven years, shared his struggle: “I couldn’t afford the wedding costs due to financial constraints. I am very grateful to be part of this program. This culture has made it difficult for young people to get engaged, forcing them to seek opportunities abroad, often without knowing if they will return.”
Another groom, Momin, urged families not to pressure their children into expensive weddings. “We ask the public to consider the economic situations of families and reduce wedding expenses to prevent young people from facing these challenges,” he said.
According to statistics from the Seelab Charity Foundation, over the past 15 years, the organization has facilitated group wedding ceremonies for thousands of couples.
In the last three years, due to rising poverty rates and high wedding costs, many young people have opted for group weddings.
