Cricket tournament in Damoh village turns sport into service:Unique match funds marriages of Dalit and tribal daughters without dowry

In a small village of Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, cricket is doing far more than entertaining crowds. The ‘Wedding Cricket Tournament’ underway in Kumhari village is transforming sporting competition into a powerful social movement—one that ensures dignity, support and a new beginning for poor and orphaned daughters. The final match, to be played after Makar Sankranti on February 15, 2026, will culminate not just in the crowning of a champion team, but in the marriage of two needy daughters, supported collectively by society. Cricket with a Cause This is no ordinary cricket tournament. Alongside runs, wickets and trophies, the event carries a deeply human purpose: funding and organising marriages for underprivileged daughters. During the final match, wedding processions will arrive at the ground, where the brides and grooms will exchange garlands before the community. Here, victory and defeat take a back seat to a far more meaningful moment—when two daughters begin their married lives with dignity and social support. See 3 pictures… Marriage Cup Season-3: From Sports to Service The tournament, popularly known as the Marriage Cup, is now in its third season. Tournament details: However, the real prize lies beyond the cash awards—the funds and resources dedicated to daughters’ weddings. No dowry is involved; instead, marriages are conducted with respect, collective responsibility and essential household support. One Thought, One Resolve: The Man Behind the Initiative The unique initiative has been spearheaded by Ravi Chauhan, a resident of Kumhari village. Ravi says his thinking stems from a simple belief: My first child is a daughter, and I wished for a daughter for my second child as well. There is no difference between a son and a daughter. With this belief, I pledged to get one needy daughter married every year. That resolve has now grown into a collective movement, drawing support from family members, friends and social workers across the village and nearby areas. Two Seasons, Two Daughters’ New Beginnings The impact of the tournament is already visible from previous editions: 2023 – Season One During the final match, the marriage of Rani Adivasi, a daughter of Kumhari village, was solemnised. Social workers gifted essential household items instead of dowry. 2024 – Season Two Babita Adivasi was married to a youth from Sanjay Nagar, Gaisabad. The event received overwhelming social support and further strengthened the movement. 2025–26: Marriages of Two Dalit-Tribal Daughters Ravi Chauhan has confirmed that preparations are underway for the marriage of two needy daughters during the current season as well. One bride belongs to a Dalit family, while the other is from a tribal community. The entire expense of their weddings will be met through tournament earnings and contributions from social workers. How Families Are Chosen The organisers follow a transparent and sensitive process. Ravi Chauhan explained that families facing severe financial hardship are identified first. Team members visit their homes to assess conditions before finalising the selection. Once approved, families are informed and supported. Household items are given as gifts, and during the final match, garland exchange ceremonies are held at the ground. The remaining wedding rituals are then completed at the brides’ homes. A Family Backing a Social Mission Ravi Chauhan’s father is a government school teacher in Hata, and the family owns ancestral land. His elder brothers run a medical store in Indore. With strong family backing, Ravi says he wants to continue helping poor and orphaned daughters for as long as possible. More Than a Tournament The Kumhari village Wedding Cricket Tournament proves that sport can be a powerful agent of social change. Where cricket grounds usually witness celebrations over trophies, here they are becoming spaces of dignity, equality and new beginnings—where daughters win security, respect and a future, and society emerges as the true champion.