LUCKNOW: Sitting on a sparkling chariot, dressed in wedding finery and surrounded by relatives and friends dancing to dhol beats. If you are imagining a wedding procession led by a groom on an adorned horse, you are mistaken.
In a shift from the age-old norm of a man bringing a baraat to his bride’s place, the city on Thursday witnessed a unique ‘dulhan ki baraat’ led by 22-year-old bride Rachna Vidyarthi. After almost an hour of dancing by her ‘baraatis’, Rachna reached the wedding venue where her groom’s baraat arrived from the other side. The ritual of ‘jaimala’ was performed at the gate. Once inside, the couple stepped on the stage together. In another novel step, the bride then proposed to the groom. The waiting family members cheered as the groom said ‘yes’.
The bride with her father Rajesh Kumar during her wedding procession
As unbelievable as it may sound, this is what happened at the wedding ceremony of the Daliganj resident who wished to challenge patriarchy and send out a message that women are no less than men. Executing the idea initiated by her father, Rachna said she felt driven to break the convention where a boy considers it his birthright to take out the wedding procession. “I realized that this change will empower many future brides and eradicate evils, including that of dowry,” said the bride, who has recently completed her masters in sociology and aspires to be a teacher.
Her father Rajesh Kumar Vidyarthi, who first shared the idea with Rachna and her to-be husband Rupesh Choudhary, a banker, said the couple was more than willing to become agents of change.
“In every community, it is expected that the bride’s family has to bow down in front of the groom’s family and accept their demands. As a parent, I never wanted that for my daughter. My daughter and to-be son-in-law were happy to send the strong message that there is no difference between boys and girls,” said Vidyarthi, an advocate.
Rachna added that the idea was also encouraged by her fiance’s family.
“We have chosen to spread the message of equality. There is nothing to be ashamed of,” she added.
In a shift from the age-old norm of a man bringing a baraat to his bride’s place, the city on Thursday witnessed a unique ‘dulhan ki baraat’ led by 22-year-old bride Rachna Vidyarthi. After almost an hour of dancing by her ‘baraatis’, Rachna reached the wedding venue where her groom’s baraat arrived from the other side. The ritual of ‘jaimala’ was performed at the gate. Once inside, the couple stepped on the stage together. In another novel step, the bride then proposed to the groom. The waiting family members cheered as the groom said ‘yes’.
As unbelievable as it may sound, this is what happened at the wedding ceremony of the Daliganj resident who wished to challenge patriarchy and send out a message that women are no less than men. Executing the idea initiated by her father, Rachna said she felt driven to break the convention where a boy considers it his birthright to take out the wedding procession. “I realized that this change will empower many future brides and eradicate evils, including that of dowry,” said the bride, who has recently completed her masters in sociology and aspires to be a teacher.
Her father Rajesh Kumar Vidyarthi, who first shared the idea with Rachna and her to-be husband Rupesh Choudhary, a banker, said the couple was more than willing to become agents of change.
“In every community, it is expected that the bride’s family has to bow down in front of the groom’s family and accept their demands. As a parent, I never wanted that for my daughter. My daughter and to-be son-in-law were happy to send the strong message that there is no difference between boys and girls,” said Vidyarthi, an advocate.
Rachna added that the idea was also encouraged by her fiance’s family.
“We have chosen to spread the message of equality. There is nothing to be ashamed of,” she added.
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