Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): President Droupadi Murmu will attend a special mass marriage ceremony at Bageshwar Dham on February 26, Mahashivratri. A total of 251 girls from various states will be married, with the event being facilitated by Pt Dhirendra Shastri.

Of the 251 girls, 108 belong to tribal communities, while 143 are from other communities. The girls come from nine states -- Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Among the selected girls, four are disabled, while 54 are orphans, with 94 having lost their fathers and 12 having lost their mothers. Moreover, 87 girls belong to very poor families, with many facing financial hardship due to serious illnesses in their families.