122 Hindu couples tie the knot in Karachi mass ceremony

Under a chequered marquee dazzling with chandeliers, 122 Hindu couples have tied their knot in a mass ceremony in Karachi.

"I am getting married here because my parents are poor. They cannot afford the wedding expenses," 25-year-old bride Kalpana Devi told AFP.

Her financial misfortunes -- and sharing her big day with dozens of other brides -- failed to dampen her spirits. "I wish that everyone could get married here," she said.

"This is a good opportunity for me as my financial state is very weak. I was not able to raise funds for the wedding," says 25-year-old Sateesh Parmar, the brother of bride Neha Parmar.

Weddings are a costly affair, where the bride's male relatives are also often expected to pay a dowry to the groom's family, with the expense delaying the marriage of women.

Pakistan is clawing its way out of a financial crisis, and rights monitors have long warned that marginalised communities suffer some of the worst socio-economic issues.

The Pakistan Hindu Council hosted the mass marriage, saying there are eight million Hindus among the 240 million people living in Pakistan, according to last year's census.

Young girls have many desires, and our parents cannot afford to fulfil them," explained Hindu activist Sundarta Rathor, also involved in arranging the mass wedding.

"The combination of economic challenges and limited education makes them susceptible to external pressures."