Kozhikode temple marriage camp draws 7,000 applicants

Nearly 7,000 people gathered at the Harahara Mahadeva Temple in Karanthur, Kozhikode, for a free pre-marital registration camp on November 1. The turnout significantly exceeded the organizers' initial expectations of approximately 1,000 applicants.

The massive crowd caused queues to extend beyond the temple premises and across two bus stops on the National Highway, requiring police intervention to manage traffic. Organizers, who had prepared 1,500 forms, ran out of documentation within hours and had to source thousands of additional copies from a printing press to accommodate the crowd.

Data from the event highlighted social trends, with nearly 80 percent of registrants being men. Many applicants were over the age of 30, with some in their 40s and 50s. Participants traveled from various districts, including Kannur, Wayanad, and Palakkad, following the camp's announcement on social media.