Child brides cry as they are forced to marry boys in secret mass wedding (photos video)

– Footage of a secret mass wedding involving underage children surfaced online

– The girls are seen and heard desperately crying during the ceremony

– India has the highest number of child brides in the world

A group of little brides are seen crying as they are focred to marry young boys in a mass wedding ceremony in Chittorgarh city, Rajasthan state, India.

One of the child brides, a five-year-old, is seen dressed in a Hindu bridal dress and is forced to walk around the fire with her child groom, an 11-year-old

The heartbreaking ceremony was captured on camera — showing girls and boys of various age accompanied by their parents taking part in traditional rites.

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One of them is seen loudly crying and pleading for help as her father drags her around the ceremonial bonfire. Another footage also shows children weeping, while a priest is performing the Hindu ritual.

The heart-breaking video was taken in Chittorgarh, a city in Rajasthan

Mass child marriages are usually held during he Akshaya Tritiya, a Hindu festival considered to be auspicious for starting a family and business.

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So far six marriages took place in two days of the festival, several families were reported to police, even more are yet to be identified and prosecuted.

Six marriages took place in two days around the Akshaya Tritiya

District Magistrate of Chittorgarh, Ved Prakash, said: “As soon as we came to know about these incidents we sent teams out to find the culprits. Once they are caught the marriages of their children will be void and the court will decide strict action against them.

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We have stopped several child marriages in the past but at times, fearing police, the villagers opt for a secretive venue which may be outside their district or village. Many do not report the incident to police even in fear of the social pressures.”

A mass child marriage ceremony in India has been captured on camera

Child rights activist Kriti Bharti has also commented on the current situation in the country: “My heart goes out to these little children trapped in this tragedy. Our society will never improve and this cruel concept will keep continuing if strict action is not taken against these people.”

India has the highest number of child brides in the world. Most of them involve underage women, many of whom are in poor socio-economic conditions.

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The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women has proposed that child marriage be defined as a forced marriage because they believe children under age 18 are incapable of giving a legally valid consent.

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