In a bid to seek blessings from them, a couple from Kolkata, India sent personal invitations to nearly 250 beggars in the city for their wedding reception party. The groom's father Malay Saha said on Friday that it's a tradition in their family to invite beggars to the wedding ceremony "to seek divine blessings and fortune in the life of the newly married sons and daughters."

The family believes that the tradition brings them good fortune. Thus, they invited beggars by asking their names from them and then writing it down on the envelopes. The tradition of inviting beggars to a wedding is traced back to their great-grandfather Satish Chandra, who too invited 175 beggars to his wedding party. "And they blessed my son and daughter-in-law from their heart," said the groom's father.

One of the blind beggars who was present on the occasion and enjoyed a hearty meal said, "I thought it was a joke. Most of us blind beggars were debating if we should attend at all. But we came out of curiosity."

According to media reports, arrangements were made for the guests to sit in the special marriage hall, called 'Pravashni'. The new bride, Mampi, personally served the beggars, treating them to rice, pulses, fish fry and many other delicacies including the sweet dishes.

Beggars blessed the couple from their heart after they received gifts from the family that included various clothes and sweets.