Elopement - a ritual in HP! (the text is loading, may take long. Please bear with us...)

In Himachal Pradesh, traditional 'Gandharva' form of marriage is still kept alive with prospective couples first eloping and then settling for a ritualistic marriage. As per this ritual, prospective brides and grooms have the liberty of choosing their life partners. As per the common ritual, lovers elope and when the couple returns home, they are married off according to the rituals in the presence of their local village deity.