Kshama Bindu, a 24-year-old Gujarati girl, married herself in a secret ceremony at her home on June 8th.
"I had no desire to marry." I did, however, want to be a bride. So I decided to marry myself," Kshama Bindu, 24, has previously stated. She was planning to marry herself on June 11th of this year.
Kshama thanked all her fans and followers for their support in a video message. "I love you all. I can't describe it in words you have been so kind to me with all the trolls happening taking my side. I have tears of joy reading your messages and stories and I am so excited for my wedding day," she said.
Bindu had previously agreed to marry in a temple in Vadodara, with a priest present. According to her prior accounts, the ceremony would involve all of the Hindu wedding rituals, such as Pheras and Sindoor application.
Her marriage, on the other hand, was not solemnised by a priest. She chose to marry privately in order to avoid any potential for controversy.
Bindu was met with opposition from BJP leader Sunita Shukla, who declared she would not allow the wedding to go place at the temple because self-marriage is forbidden in Hinduism. Following this, the priest who had consented to marry Kshama Bindu to herself withdrew his consent.
"I am against the choice of the venue. She will not be allowed to marry herself in any temple. Such marriages are against Hinduism. This will reduce the population of Hindus. If anything goes against religion, then no law will prevail," BJP's Sunita Shukla had said to Times of India.
As a result of the priest's withdrawal, the temple location became unavailable for Kshama.
The priest informed the reporters that he agreed to the self-marriage because he assumed it would be a marriage between an inanimate object, such as a tree, as is customary for persons with 'manglik dosh.'
With the start of Pride Month in June, Bindu stated that she believes she would set an example of self-love in India. "Maybe I am the first to set an example of self-love in our country," she was quoted as saying.
She's even planning a two-week vacation for herself, complete with wedding customs.
Kshama has been quoted as asserting that she is India's first case of self-marriage or sologamy.
"I looked up to see if there has been any such marriage in India, but couldn't find any. Maybe I am the first one to do so."
According to Bindu, 'self-marriage' is a "commitment to be there for yourself and unconditional love for oneself". She said it is also "an act of self-acceptance".
“Self-marriage is a commitment to be there for yourself and unconditional love for oneself. It’s also an act of self-acceptance. People marry someone they love. I love myself and hence, this wedding," explained Kshama.
