A Ukrainian couple, who were married 10 years ago, remarried as per Hindu tradition in a simple ceremony at a goshala (cow shelter) at Neelavar village in Udupi district on Wednesday.
A retired professional Ukrainian football player, Vitaliy Hryhorovych Reva (40), tied the knot with his wife Elena Reva, an interior decorator, in the presence of their eight-year-old daughter Vasilissa, 16 Russian and Ukrainian friends, and a few local residents.
Mr. Reva wanted to wed his wife in the Hindu custom. The couple had come to receive Ayurvedic treatment here. The wedding was arranged by Ayurveda practitioner Thanmay Goswami. The groom was dressed in a dhoti-kurta and a peta, while the bride wore a sari. The rituals were conducted by priest Manjunath.
Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Reva said he had read a lot about Indian philosophy and had even applied it in his football game. He practiced Yoga daily, which had helped improve his concentration in the game. “It was my dream to get married in the Indian tradition as I had read that marriages here are done by keeping fire as messenger to god amid chanting of mantras,” he said.
He had asked Mr. Goswami to arrange a traditional Indian wedding. “I wished to get married in the presence of cows and in a spiritual environment,” he said.
Dr. Goswami said though Mr. Reva was attracted to Indian philosophy and culture, he also loved his Ukrainian culture. “When he expressed his desire for a wedding as per Indian traditions, that too, in a simple manner in rural surroundings, I decided to arrange for it,” he said.
Cathiana, a friend of the Revas, said she liked the ceremony. “It is very impressive,” she said.
