Muslim couple, a Hindu daughter and a wedding
Allahabad
It's a Hindu-Muslim story with perhaps few parallels. On Friday, a Muslim couple solemnised the marriage of their daughter Babita, born to Hindu parents, as per Hindu rituals in the Naini area here.
A purohit solemnised the marriage, the couple made seven rounds of the holy fire to solemnise their union, and to uphold the sanctity of the marriage, Ghulam Mohammad and Rashida Begum requested Dhyanchandra Kuswaha and his wife to perform the Kanya Daan. Being Muslims, they could not do it themselves.
It was another turn in a story that began 14 years ago, when Ghulam Mohammad and Rashida Begum adopted Babita. They had only two sons and desire for a daughter prompted them to adopt her. Her father Chander Yadav had died in 1994, and soon after, her mother Drupathi Devi also fell ill. Before Drupathi died, Ghulam and his wife adopted Babita and assured her of treating her as their own child.
By all accounts, they kept their promise and Babita was as pampered by them as their sons.
A few months ago, Rashida asked her husband to search for a suitable groom for Babita. However, they were in a dilemma should Babita be married to a Muslim, or a Hindu? Finally, they decided that they would respect Babitas faith and look for a Hindu boy for her.
The search for a groom wasnt easy though. Wherever Ghulam, a contractor by profession, went, he had to face uneasy questions. Few Hindus appreciated the idea of associating their family with a girl was brought up in a Muslim family. Finally, Ganga Prasad Yadav, a resident of Barauli village, agreed to marry his son Babloo Yadav with Babita.
Ghulams family then carefully ensured that all proper Hindu rituals were observed at the wedding. There was an engagement, and marriage cards were distributed carrying a picture of Lord Ganesha. Ghulam was mentioned as Babitas father in the card.
Over 2,000 people were invited to the wedding, which was solemnised in Ghulams own house, not a rented hall or a hotel. Everyone in his family participated enthusiastically.
When Ghulam and his wife performed the vidai, even his neighbours turned couldnt stop their tears. Ghulam saw Babita off with all the necessary household items, like any Hindu father does for his daughter.
However, Ghulam doesnt think that what he and his wife did was anything extraordinary. It was the marriage of my daughter, he said, and I did what every father has been doing since ages.
Allahabad
It's a Hindu-Muslim story with perhaps few parallels. On Friday, a Muslim couple solemnised the marriage of their daughter Babita, born to Hindu parents, as per Hindu rituals in the Naini area here.
A purohit solemnised the marriage, the couple made seven rounds of the holy fire to solemnise their union, and to uphold the sanctity of the marriage, Ghulam Mohammad and Rashida Begum requested Dhyanchandra Kuswaha and his wife to perform the Kanya Daan. Being Muslims, they could not do it themselves.
It was another turn in a story that began 14 years ago, when Ghulam Mohammad and Rashida Begum adopted Babita. They had only two sons and desire for a daughter prompted them to adopt her. Her father Chander Yadav had died in 1994, and soon after, her mother Drupathi Devi also fell ill. Before Drupathi died, Ghulam and his wife adopted Babita and assured her of treating her as their own child.
By all accounts, they kept their promise and Babita was as pampered by them as their sons.
A few months ago, Rashida asked her husband to search for a suitable groom for Babita. However, they were in a dilemma should Babita be married to a Muslim, or a Hindu? Finally, they decided that they would respect Babitas faith and look for a Hindu boy for her.
The search for a groom wasnt easy though. Wherever Ghulam, a contractor by profession, went, he had to face uneasy questions. Few Hindus appreciated the idea of associating their family with a girl was brought up in a Muslim family. Finally, Ganga Prasad Yadav, a resident of Barauli village, agreed to marry his son Babloo Yadav with Babita.
Ghulams family then carefully ensured that all proper Hindu rituals were observed at the wedding. There was an engagement, and marriage cards were distributed carrying a picture of Lord Ganesha. Ghulam was mentioned as Babitas father in the card.
Over 2,000 people were invited to the wedding, which was solemnised in Ghulams own house, not a rented hall or a hotel. Everyone in his family participated enthusiastically.
When Ghulam and his wife performed the vidai, even his neighbours turned couldnt stop their tears. Ghulam saw Babita off with all the necessary household items, like any Hindu father does for his daughter.
However, Ghulam doesnt think that what he and his wife did was anything extraordinary. It was the marriage of my daughter, he said, and I did what every father has been doing since ages.
