In Ludhiana, Muslim couple hosts Hindu girl's marriage

MACHHIWARA: Against the backdrop of Covid-19 triggered restrictions, a Muslim couple in Ludhiana made the wedding of a Hindu couple possible. The family from Bhatiyan in Ludhiana district stepped in to solemnise the marriage of 22-year-old Pooja with Sudesh Kumar from Sahnewal according to Hindu rituals and carried out her Kanyadaan (giving of a daughter's hand in marriage) on Tuesday as her parents couldn’t return from Uttar Pradesh due to the lockdown.

Pooja’s marriage was fixed before the lockdown, but her farm worker father Varinder Kumar, mother, brother Agba and three sisters, who had gone to their native village in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, got stuck there due to the Covid curbs.

"When the family of the bridegroom asked us about the marriage, I called up Pooja’s parents and they told us that we could go ahead with the marriage. We did all preparations for the ceremony, called Pandit Ji from Machhiwara and got the “pheras” solemnized as per the Hindu rituals. I along with my wife Soni, performed Pooja’s Kanyadaan and cooked lunch for the bridegroom’s family. We also gifted her a double bed, almirahs and utensils," said Abdul Sajid, who works in a yarn mill and is originally from Katihar in Bihar . "She addresses me and my wife as mama (maternal uncle) and maami (maternal aunt) and we did whatever we could for her.” We have known her family for about five years. There are many examples in India where people of various religions and beliefs help each other." Sajid said her parents had sent some money for the marriage.

Soni said they considered Pooja to be their daughter and felt good that they could get her marriage solemnized in the best possible manner. She added that though the marriage was simple, they tried to ensure that all the rituals associated with a traditional Hindu marriage were done.

The marriage was a small, cosy affair. "There were only four other adults at the marriage, including two sisters of groom and their husbands and three children, so only seven persons had come for the marriage. The family of the groom had insisted that they didn’t want any sort of gift , but we thought that we must give her something when she leaves for her new home," said Sajid.

The bridegroom was touched by the couple’s gesture. "I am marrying a Hindu girl and I am happy that our marriage is being solemnized by a Muslim family." The bride was highly appreciative of how her Muslim mama-maami made her wedding possible.