In an unusual choice of venue, a couple tied the knot in a simple ceremony on the premises of the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Manimandapam on the Beach Road.
The couple — N. Tamilarasan, 30, employee of a private company and A. Piraimala, 25 — entered into wedlock in the presence of their parents and functionaries of the Puducherry unit of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
There was no ostentatious expenditure and no invitation was printed as would normally be seen in a marriage.
The formal rituals in a marriage were also shunned.
Tamilarasan said that he considered the ‘thali’ as an ornament and that he got married in keeping with the teachings of Ambedkar and in agreement with the self-respect movement of social reformer Periyar.
“The teachings of Periyar and Ambedkar’s views are zealously followed by VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan and we wanted the marriage to be solemnised at the manimandapam without any rituals and practices normally seen in Hindu weddings,” he said.
A 20-minute event
The marriage was held in a short span of about 20 minutes although at one stage the police tried to intervene on the ground that the couple should have obtained permission from the Puducherry Municipality as the venue was within their jurisdiction.
However, the family members of the couple were not prepared to respond to these objections and left with the couple to the office of Registrar of Marriages to complete the legal formalities.