Vadodara: A woman living here is set to marry herself in an act of 'self-love' on June 11 in the first such case of sologamy in India.
Originally from Bihar and now living in Gujarat, Kshama Bindu says she loves herself. Since childhood, she used to think about living alone -- that is with herself.
She told reporters that she thought of self-marriage when she saw the award-winning Canadian web series "Anne With An E" based on young abandoned children, gender inequality and other social issues.
A dialogue from the web series -- "every woman wants to become a bride but not a wife" -- influenced her deeply. She realized she can become a bride without a groom.
Bindu, who graduated in sociology from the Sayaji Rao University, lives here in the Gotri area and now works as a senior recruiter in a private company. Her father lives in South Africa and mother and sister in Ahmedabad. She has been living in Vadodara for the last four years.
She said her marriage will be take place according to Indian rites in the local Mahadev temple minus, of course, a groom.
Bindu said that she had approached more than 20 priests for the marriage but only one agreed to do it. A woman colleague will do the "kanyadaan".
Kshama has her parents' consent. She has prepared five vows for the wedding. She has also decided to take a two-week honeymoon break in Goa.
Self-marriage first became popular in a 2003 episode of "Sex in the City", when the main character Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, who mused about marrying herself. She declared it after her married friends never celebrated her decision to be single.
The trend has been popular in the UK, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the US.
Won't allow self-marriage in temple: BJP leader
A BJP leader has asserted that a woman who wants to be the first Indian to embrace sologamy will not be allowed to marry herself in a Hindu temple.
Sunita Shukla, a former Deputy Mayor of Vadodara in Gujarat, on Friday took strong objection to the announcement by Kshama Bindu, 24, that she will get "married" at the Harihareshwar temple in Vadodara on June 11.
Shukla described the matter as "completely anti-Hindu" and "perverted". She said such marriages are against the Indian culture and Hinduism. (Inputs from UNI)
