Published 15:10 IST, August 8th 2019
Indian transgender couple tie the knot in historic 'rainbow wedding'
In a historic moment, the state of West Bengal has witnessed its first marriage of a transgender couple.
In a historic moment, the state of West Bengal has witnessed its first marriage of a transgender couple.
Love was in the air when the couple who had previously undergone a sex re-assignment tied the knot in the presence of their loved ones in the City of Joy. Adhering to the customs of a traditional Bengali wedding, the couple performed the first ever 'Rainbow wedding' carried out in West Bengal.
The bride, Tista Das, 38, and groom Dipan Chakravarthy, 40, looked ethereal while they took part in rituals and pledged their undying love for each other.
Marking not just their big day but one for transgenders as a whole, the bride said that they feel elated at being out of the 'gender box' and an 'exception' in society. Recounting her experience, she went on add that their bond is one of love and liberty and it is the solidarity of their souls.
Tista Das said she battled for a long time to achieve her identity as a woman in a society where she wasn't even given dignity as a human being. A transgender friend of the couple, Anurag Maitrayee, said the ceremony was a "beautiful, emotional union of two hearts and two souls”.
Transgenders in India have had a long struggle in their fight for dignity, to be respected, and most importantly, to be treated at par in society, often being forced into degrading roles due to ostracisation. However after having fought a long-drawn battle, in a historic ruling in 2014, the Supreme Court recognised a third gender. The quest for real equality continues, however, and Tista and Dipan have taken a big step that ought to give others hope.
Updated 23:53 IST, August 8th 2019