A wedding with a difference

Sabitha from Narasaraopet and Thierry Pamphile from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, enter wedlock as per Hindu tradition

The Haitian groom and hisIndian bride revel in a traditional ritual thatformed part of their wedding in Vijayawada. Photo: Raju. V

‘Marriages are made in heaven' goes the adage. But there are different ways of solemnising them in every part of the world. With walls of religion, caste, and political boundaries vanishing in this global village, appreciating each other's culture and traditions has become the cornerstone.

An invitation that many received in Guntur and Krishna districts turned out to be an example of integration of religions and nations. Thus read the invite:

Bridegroom: Chiranjeevi Thierry Pamphile, only son of Marth Pamphile and Christmas Pamphile, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Bride: Chiranjeevi Lakshmi Sowbhagyavati Sabitha, youngest daughter of Rajasekhar Anisetty and Naseema Rajasekhar. Muhurtam: Friday, May 4, 8.40 a.m., Hastha Nakshatram, Midhuna Lagnam. Venue: The Kay Hotel, Vijayawada. Who would have ever thought of seeing such a wedding invitation? Mr. Thierry Pamphile grew up a Catholic at Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Ms. Sabitha grew up in Narasaraopet under the care of her Hindu father, a banker, and Muslim mother, a lawyer.

Dream come true

Ms. Sabitha and Mr. Pimphile moved to the United States and joined the same engineering college. The script from here is anyone's guess! Love blossomed after friendship. But having a ‘traditional Hindu' Telugu wedding has always been Ms. Sabitha's dream. “I've been pinching myself all through the ceremony. I have been dreaming of such a wedding ceremony,” she said with a perfect American accent.

The wedding was planned in Vijayawada for the convenience of relatives who came from all over the State. The bride enjoyed every moment of the ceremony. Starting with placing the ‘jeelakara bellam' on each other's head, the tying of ‘mangalasutram', the exchange of ‘talambralu', and competing with the groom to get the ring in a vessel full of water, Ms. Sabitha had a real blast.

The ceremony took a little longer than usual with the Indian bride explaining to the Haitian bridegroom the meaning of the different mantras he was made to recite by the ‘purohit' and the significance of the different rituals. Cooperative Minister Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy, a friend of the family, several lawyers, and judges graced the occasion. The bride is the granddaughter of freedom-fighter Mohammad Mohideen Saheb.

Religious integration

“Our family is a wonderful example of religious integration. I married a Hindu. My elder daughter married a Muslim and my younger daughter married a Christian,” said Ms. Naseema.