One hundred couples were married in a mass ceremony in Herat province on Sunday with the help of charitable organizations.

Local officials and cultural experts in Herat say that due to financial problems, unemployment and the economic crisis, many young people are unable to afford a wedding, but charities have stepped in to help.

“We conducted a survey. These people are from all walks of life. They are poor. Those who were not able to hold their wedding were identified and registered, and then their wedding ceremony was held today. Sixty gift items have been arranged for them with clothes for the bride and groom,” Abdulhaq Seddiqi, the organizer of this ceremony, said.

A bride and groom in Afghanistan are expected to hold lavish ceremonies in accordance with tradition, but these events are no longer affordable for most young people today.

“This charity foundation came and organized our wedding. People are poor,” Ismail, one groom, said.

“We had economic problems. Our economy is very weak. We could not arrange our wedding,” Ghulam Sediq, another groom, said.

Many mass weddings have been held in recent years. Some cultural experts say that such events need to be promoted in order to avoid excessive wedding expenses.

“We consider this culture beautiful and praiseworthy and for the benefit of our beloved country, youth and families, and we wish that the cultural and social activities of the Habib Yar Foundation will be an example for all charity institutions throughout Afghanistan,” Naeem-ul-Haqqani, head of the government’s media center, said.

Khalilullah Mohammadi, a religious scholar, said: “When two people get married, as a result of their marriage, good children are born in the society and moral corruption is prevented.”

The mass wedding comes nearly two weeks after another one which was held in Nimroz province.