It’s hard to deny the fact that Indian weddings have some of the most regressive customs and traditions that are definitely not gender-neutral. Right from the feet washing ceremony to Kanyadaan and dowry, these patriarchal rituals are problematic enough to exist in current times when we advocate for equality.
Calling the shots during her wedding, this bride struck a balance by making her to-be husband also perform the same rituals as her.
In a video, the bride Phalasha, who is a gender and health systems researcher, said how she decided to bring equality into her marriage by putting sindoor in the maang of her husband.
Breaking the bias, she also made his parents do ‘Kunwardaan’ as a corresponding activity to ‘Kanyadaan’.
She said she wanted to keep her marriage progressive, hence she brought the changes in the rituals.
Watch:
View this post on Instagram
In one of the videos going viral, the groom Shiv Verma can also be seen tossing rice as a see-off to his family into their new lives which is typically done by brides during the vidaai.
View this post on Instagram
While their acts to strive for equality might come across as progressive and woke for many, they also received a lot of backlash from people online who said they could have just gone for a court marriage instead of indulging in a desi wedding and changing the age-old customs.
Seriously 😳 Diksha…
Thanks to your special husband 🤳🤐🎉🎊 https://t.co/5GYBm8t2p3— Adv Monalisha Gantayat (@AdvGantayat) April 13, 2022
In order to not be a TYPICAL BRIDE, she became a 🤡 BRIDE. pic.twitter.com/As4aOKS3bA
— Diksha 🏳️🌈 (@BrahmaandKiMaa) April 12, 2022
If they don't believe in Hindu rituals and traditions, they could have opted for court marriage or something else. Phir ye haldi, mehandi and all kyu? She should have asked his groom also to wear chooda. Big-fat Indian wedding bhi to chahiye in 'Papa Ki Pari' ko. https://t.co/TpY7VfLo0D
— Madhu L (@MadhuL13) April 13, 2022
She is not a typical Indian bride..she is a typical Indian hippocrite!
Because despite not having any respect towards Hindu marriage traditions and rituals, she still chose to spoil them rather than going ahead with a simple court marriage. https://t.co/gwqxAK75Hn
— अनुज वत्स (@AnujVat35570914) April 13, 2022
If you have so much problem with hindu traditions there are other methods of getting married why so much theatrics? https://t.co/buSYLSqj0U
— Rakesh Shaw (@RakeshS74072468) April 13, 2022
Ok break the stereotypes ..interchange the roles in pregnancy too😋👍 … https://t.co/Ip8QU1fzN6
— KlRahulpopa (@KRahulpopa) April 13, 2022
She did not want to do Kanyaadaan and he wanted to do a “Launda-dain.”
The day has just started but that’s enough social media for today. 😭 https://t.co/U8uGOnAPi6
— Sunidhi Srivastava (@sunidhi996) April 13, 2022
No wonder the world is in a hurry to end itself https://t.co/hudYADSeKu
— Bhīmakāya | ಭೀಮಕಾಯ (@bheema_raya) April 13, 2022
You can be feminist, you can be pro 🏳️🌈 and you can be proud unapologetic Hindu too… because Hinduism is inclusive of everything !! But this act of rejecting Hindu tradition is not progressive nor it is helping 🏳️🌈gender ! Just get married in court then why no much drama! https://t.co/FqWWSlbfH9
— Nocap. dawg🇨🇦🏳️🌈🕉☸️ (@nocap_dawg) April 13, 2022
Every one is entitled to their choice ! If you believe in equality than opt for a civil court marriage,why to make fun of Indian cultural wedding !
Find some other publicity stunt to look cool as right now looking ful!
Feminism is in equality and not in role reversal! https://t.co/6r311IRTDD
— Tw!tter BFF❤️ (@ankijain86) April 12, 2022
Lol… Should have worn sherwani herself and let the husband wear ghagra choli if she was going with not a TYPICAL BRIDE idea https://t.co/xeVKf6l7cB
— 🐦Tweet and let tweet🐦 (@sunit_am) April 12, 2022
Pandit Ji be like pic.twitter.com/xm9zWiZhcG
— Ravish (@1982ravish) April 12, 2022
Proper education in cultural rituals , their history , value- background and relevance might have helped in developing informed decision making but who cares for knowledge . Making a statement is more important , however dumb it might be … https://t.co/8m9yMImDhS
— Krishnasutra (@Krishnasutra1) April 12, 2022
What do you think of this new-age thought of bringing in gender equality in Indian weddings?