Odisha: Couple solemnise marriage by swearing on the Constitution

An Odisha Couple hailing from Berhampur town has gained attention after they decided to get married in a unique way. Bilap Kumar, an employee of a pharmaceutical firm, married 23-year-old Aneeta, an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), on Sunday in the presence of their family members, relatives and guests. Anita and Bilap decided to ditch a traditional wedding and solemnised their marriage by taking an oath on a copy of the Indian Constitution. They also organised a blood donation camp to mark the occasion. Many of the guests also took part in the blood donation camp. 

'Happy that I started my new life with a noble cause'

"Our marriage was solemnised without matching of horoscopes or chanting of hymns. Everyone should avoid dowry. Simple marriages are eco-friendly because there are no crackers or loud music. In our marriage, we avoided the 'baratis'. Everyone should donate blood for a noble cause," Bilap Kumar said. Anita said she is happy to have started her new life with a noble cause. "I am happy that I started my new life with the noble cause of organising a blood donation camp," she said. 

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36 units of blood were collected

Some 36 units of blood were collected on the occasion. The Humanist and Rationalist Organisation (HRO) and the Association of Volunteer Blood Donors (AVBD) have lauded the efforts of the couple. Mohan Rao, father of the groom said he decided to organise a wedding that will be an example to society. 

Similarly, a couple based in Bengaluru Ajay and Babita Jatav also married in a unique way. As a wedding gift, the couple gifted their village in Rajasthan a library and plant samplings. The groom urged his 'baraatis' to use the library to increase their understanding and knowledge wedding also encouraged green methods. The wedding ceremony was planned in such a way that there was not any use of single-use plastic. Steel cutlery was used for meals and earthen cups were used to serve water. Their wedding card was wrapped in cloth. 

(With agency inputs)

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