Christian-Muslim Couple Wed Hindu Way

Their love triumphed over everything – their different faiths and
parental opposition. A Muslim woman and her Christian boyfriend Monday
chose to get united in matrimony through Hindu rituals, complete with
chanting of Sanskrit mantras and going round the holy fire.

Looking
radiant in a gold-coloured bridal attire with the Hindu symbols of
marriage – vermilion mark on her forehead and a thali (gold ornament
worn on a yellow thread around the neck) – bride J. Serina Banu, 23,
completed the seven rounds around the ritual fire at a small Ganesh
temple with husband M. Justin, uttering the vows in Sanskrit prompted
by a Hindu Brahmin priest.

The couple told reporters that they
had eloped due
to parental opposition from their village in Kanyakumari district in
southern Tamil Nadu, travelled over 300 km to this textile town 375 km
south west of Chennai with the help of friends, some of whom belonged
to the PMK, a party that claims to strive for an egalitarian society.

‘We
were scared of triggering communal riots back home due to our
inter-religious union. Now that we are married through another
religion, the danger may have abated. Though we do not wish to change
our names or faiths, we will live as practising Hindus for the rest of
our lives,’ Banu said.

Her beaming dhoti-clad husband sported sandalwood marks on his forehead.

The
marriage was the culmination of a two-year courtship, which their
fathers Jawahar Ali and Michael, residents of Thittavalai, a hamlet
near in Kanyakumari district, were dead against. The area is known for
communal hatred between Hindus, Christians and Muslims, the couple
revealed.

‘We were not aware that
Muslims could marry Christians sans conversion. At least we didn’t,’
the newlyweds added, smilingly answering queries on faith from
journalists.

The couple said that they have applied for police protection as a matter of precaution.

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