The first 'sologamy' in India was done with Mehendi, Haldi | Gujarat woman married herself
India witnessed its first sologamy when Gujarat woman Kshama Bindu married herself, complete with 'Mehendi' and 'Haldi' rituals. She married a few days early to avoid any controversy after a BJP leader objected to her wedding and said she wouldn't be allowed to marry in a temple.
She thanked everyone in a video message after the wedding, saying she was grateful for the support and encouragement. "I'd like to express my gratitude to everyone who has messaged me, congratulated me, and given me the courage to fight for what I believed in," she wrote on Facebook.
The 'sologamy' became a major talking point, with politicians expressing their views on such a marriage. According to a BJP leader, such marriages are against Hinduism, and Kshama will not be allowed to marry in a temple. Congress leader Milind Deora, on the other hand, called her marriage an example of "wokeness" that bordered on insanity. While she had many detractors, she also had widespread support.
In response to Deora, Mario da Penha, a history Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers University, stated: "We live in a country where women born under the influence of Mars are required to marry banana plants, peepal trees, dogs, and clay pots in order for their negative influence not to be passed on to their future husbands. What do you call these customary practices if 'wokeness' is insanity?"
WHO IS KSHAMA BINDU?
Kshama Bindu, a Vadodara resident, planned to marry herself on June 11 in India's first case of sologamy. She considers herself bisexual. Kshama has a bachelor's degree in sociology and is currently employed as a Senior Recruitment Officer in a private company. Her parents are both engineers.
"Self-marriage is a vow to be present for and unconditionally love oneself. It's also a form of self-acceptance. People marry the people they care about. I adore myself, so this wedding is perfect for me." Kshama, a private firm employee, elaborated.