Barodian set to marry herself

VADODARA: Like any other Indian bride to-be, Kshama Bindu is getting ready for her D-day on June 11. While she gets her exquisite bridal wear ready, the 24-year-old is, however, getting into a union with herself strictly — it’s a solo affair from the word go.
It may seem incredulous, but from ‘feras’ to performing all the traditional rituals and even wearing vermilion in presence of some select guests, the wedding will have it all but for just one ‘minor’ aspect — the groom and the big fat baraat.
This is probably the first self-marriage or sologamy in Gujarat.
“Ever since my teens, I never wanted to get married. The tradition, somehow, never appealed to me. But, I did want to become a bride. So, I decided to marry myself. It’s called Sologamy,” Kshama told TOI.
She said that an actress in a web-series too was heard saying that ‘every woman wants to be a bride but not a wife’. “And, thereon, my thoughts to marry myself got re-ignited,” said the resident of Gotri.
She did some online research to find out if any Indian woman has self-married in the country, but couldn’t find any. “Maybe I am the first to set an example of self-love in our country where marriages are considered to be sacred,” the soon-to-be bride said.
“Self-marriage is a commitment to be there for yourself and unconditional love for oneself. It’s also a recognition of stepping into adulthood and an act of self-acceptance. People marry someone they love. I love myself and hence this wedding,” explained Kshama, who works for a private firm outsourcing manpower after she graduated in Sociology from MS University.
She said that some might perceive such self-marriage as irrelevant. “But what I am actually trying to portray is that women matter,” said the young professional who added that her parents are open-minded and have given their blessings to her wedding.
“They (parents) said that as long as it makes me happy, they are fine with it. My mother, in fact, said that I always think of something new,” revealed the woman who has already written five vows for her wedding to be solemnized at a temple in Gotri area.
“I have sent out the invites. The mehendi ceremony is on June 9 and the wedding will be at 5 pm on June 11. My bridal trousseau includes white dhoti and kurta for ‘mehendi’ ceremony and sari for ‘haldi’ on the wedding day,” she gushed, adding that about 15 friends and colleagues will attend the do, but her mother, who can’t travel, will bless her through video call.
And that’s not all: A two-week honeymoon to Goa is also on Kshama’s list of wedding plans!
Watch This Baroda woman is choosing to marry herself