April 21, 20162:03pm
Child bride forced to marry older boy in India
THIS
upsetting video shows weeping children — some as young as five — being
forced to marry older grooms in a mass ceremony in India.
The distressing clip shows a 10-year-old girl crying uncontrollably as she holds the hand of her teenage partner.The girl is dressed in a pink veil and can be heard pleading for help as she is forced to walk around a fire seven times in the Hindu ritual.
A young bride wails as she is forced to take part in the ceremony. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
It has infuriated child rights groups as it is highly illegal.
The legal age for girls to marry in India is 18 and for boys it is 21.
In another clip a faith leader is seen telling the children off for crying.
Children are forced to circle a fire seven times in the Hindu ritual. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
Some brides in the footage are believed to be as young as five-years-old. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
One of the child brides is a five-year-old girl dressed in a red Hindu bridal dress being forced to marry an 11-year-old boy.
Kriti Bharti, a child rights activist and founder of Saarthi Trust charity said: “My heart goes out to these little children trapped in this tragedy.
A distraught five-year-old child is led into the ritual by her dad and 11-year-old groom. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
“Action should not only be taken against the families but each adult involved in the ceremony including the decorators, caterers, attendees, relatives etc.”
Kriti has so far annulled 29 child marriages in Rajasthan and has stopped 850 taking place.
This article originally appeared in The Sun.
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