Wedding organised with full Indian rituals and Vedic chants
Subhash Mahajan
Chamba:
Vinay Thakur, a youth from Simni village in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, has become the talk of the town — and for a heartwarming reason. Vinay recently brought his life partner, Maria from the Philippines, to India and the couple tied the knot in a traditional Indian wedding ceremony held at a hotel in Pathankot.
The wedding was celebrated with full Indian rituals and Vedic chants, symbolising the union of two cultures and hearts. Both families radiated happiness as Maria’s parents, brother and sister flew in from the Philippines to participate in the joyous event.
From mehendi to haldi, Maria enthusiastically took part in every ceremony, clearly enchanted by Indian customs. She said she was deeply impressed by the warmth and cultural richness of India. During the saat phere (seven vows) ceremony, the priest translated each vow into English for her. The vow that touched her most, Maria said, was the one about respecting her husband and his family, a value she found especially meaningful.
Love that began in West Africa
Vinay and Maria first met nearly three years ago in West Africa, where both were working as civil engineers for the same company. Their friendship soon blossomed into love.
“Vinay was the first to propose,” Maria said with a smile. “He is kind, gentle and respectful — qualities that made me fall in love with him.”
Convincing both families wasn’t easy at first, but love ultimately prevailed. The couple now stands as a testament to the belief that true love knows no barriers — not of culture, language or geography.
Adapting to new life in India
After the wedding, the couple faced the practical challenge of language. Since Vinay’s family members from the village speak little English, Maria has started learning Hindi to communicate better. “It’s fun,” she laughed. “And the food here is amazing! I love Indian cuisine, especially pani puri, it’s my favorite now.”
Maria also revealed her fondness for Indian music, humming a Hindi tune she recently learned. Currently, Vinay is employed in Georgia, while Maria continues to work in Africa, though the couple said they plan to settle together soon.
Speaking about their marriage, Vinay and Maria said, “We are overjoyed that our dream has come true. Our wedding is not just about us — it’s a bridge between two beautiful cultures.”
