Unable to find suitable brides for rural areas, farmers plan padayatra in Karnataka

A large number of farmers in Karnataka are preparing to embark on a padayatra (march) to a shrine in Mandya next month in the hopes of finding suitable brides. As per a TOI report, this comes eight months after a similar initiative by another group. The farmers believe that the scarcity of brides is due to the reluctance of women and their families to embrace rural life.

Santosh, who was part of the group that trekked to the MM Hills temple in Chamarajanagar district in February, told TOI, "We are not seeking dowry. We treat prospective brides like queens. However, no family is willing to give their daughters to us. We organized this padayatra to raise awareness about the issue in society."

In December, the unmarried men from Mandya will undertake a march to the Adichunchanagiri Mutt under the banner of the Akhila Karnataka Brahmacharigala Sangha. KM Shivaprasad, the founder of the Sangha, stated, "We met Adichunchanagiri seer Nirmalanandanatha Swami, who has given his consent for the yatra. The main objective is to create awareness in society about the bride crisis."


The farmers hope that through these padayatras, they can bring attention to the challenges they face in finding suitable life partners. They emphasize that they are committed to treating their future brides with utmost respect and care, dispelling any misconceptions about their intentions. The participation of the local community and religious leaders in these marches highlights the seriousness of the issue and the need for collective efforts to address the bride crisis.