Priest plays cupid to more than 10,000 couples in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: The Laganiya Hanuman temple in city’s Meghaninagar area was a busy venue for love-struck couples on Valentine’s Day. Notwithstanding the diety's own Brahmachari status and being considered as the Lord of celibacy, lovers from across the country, especially those who eloped to get married, throng the temple to seek his blessings for a happily married life.
True to the tradition, 26-year-old Tarun from a village in Shirohi district in Rajasthan cemented his relation with his 22-year-old beloved Sangeeta, on the hallowed premises. While his parents approved of their affair, Sangeeta's parents thoroughly disapproved her choice. “When I told them about our affair, my family beat me up and threatened to beat Tarun up too if we continued our relationship. I was scared, but my loveovercame all fear and get married despite my family's objections,” Sangeeta said.
With his aim to help more such lovers unite in matrimony, temple's priest Hirabhai Jaguji chose the day of love on Monday to get 10,051 couples married. Over the past 15 years, this dhoti-kurta clad priest has been propagating love and playing cupid especially to love-struck couples who have to overcome various obstacles to get married here.