Photos: Young widow’s marriage solemnized in Vrindavan at Gopinath temple

In a departure from tradition, a young widow’s marriage was solemnised in the presence of around 500 widows in the 400-year-old Gopinath temple of Vrindavan on Monday. ...read more

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Vinita Devi (centre), a former widow, was married to Rakesh Kumar and the ceremony was solemnized in the presence of 500 widows at the 400 year-old Gopinath temple in Vrindavan on October 16, 2017. Vinita was widowed in 2013, when she lost her husband in the Uttarakhand floods. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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For the widows ushering in the remarriage, this was their Diwali celebration. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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Vinita, seen walking out to the courtyard of the Gopinath temple for the ceremony. ‘I think more women should come forward and take decisions of their lives on their own, whether it is about education, career or choosing a life partner,’ she said. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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A widow (centre) watches Vinita’s marriage ceremony from the sidelines. In a major departure from tradition, remarriage was celebrated in the city where most widows take refuge. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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Over 500 widows from different ashrams in Vrindavan along with local residents attended the grand ceremony, which was possible due to the intervention of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh International. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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Rakesh Kumar (left) smiles at the solemnization of his marriage to Vinita Devi in Vrindavan. They had a court marriage in 2014 but lacked societal acceptance, hence Sulabh International stepped in to help them with the ceremonial rituals. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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The wedding, organised by Sulabh International, which works for the welfare of widows as part of its human rights and social reform initiatives in the country, was completed with all rituals. A ‘mandap’ was decorated with flowers in the courtyard of the temple. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)