Badass Indian Brides Who Broke Stereotypes At Their Wedding
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Women are always asked to behave in a decorous manner. Be it their manner of speaking or the way they walk, or the clothes they wear — everything must be done in a ladylike manner. This unsaid code of conduct becomes more stringent when they become brides. So, it’s no wonder the acceptable or encouraged way for a woman to be on her wedding day is one where she is decked to the nines, coyly throwing glances at her betrothed, while accepting the blessings of her well-wishers.
Therefore, when we think of a bride, and a desi bride at that, we visualize a blushing bride dressed in a resplendent lehenga. But there are a few real-life brides, who broke away from this stereotype and did their big day in their unique style, and that too, while rocking that bridal finery! Today, we are bringing you stories of such badass desi brides who reinvented tradition, in their unique way. Keen to know how? Read along.
1. This Bride Who Stalled Her Wedding Celebrations To Take An Exam
For many women out there, the decision to get married represents a personal crossroads of sorts where they have to choose between their career and personal life. But it wasn’t the case for this badass bride who showed everyone that with it’s possible for women to have it all. HR Swetha’s examination for Company Law and Accounts happened to fall on the same day as her wedding. However, instead of choosing one over the other, Swetha, her husband Naveen, and their family members devised a unique way out. On the day of the exam, the couple got married early morning following which Swetha went to the examination center to take her exam. Talk about dedication!
2. This Bride Who Proved That All That Glitters Is Certainly Not Gold
While it may vary from one community to others, but the Indian obsession with the precious metal of gold is very real. One occasion where this obsession crosses all limits of sanity is a wedding! Sruthi Krishna decided to buck this trend by swapping the traditional bridal gold jewelry in favor of one which was made from cereal and grains! And this woke bride didn’t just stop at that. Instead of having a gala wedding, she went for a quiet court affair, where her main witness was a transgender LGBTQ activist, Sheethal Shyam. She said that she took this decision to give women and other un-empowered groups the power to be an official authority.
3. This Bride Who Had Her Single Mother Do Her Kanyadaan
In our cultural context, when it comes to tradition and customs, women are often given perfunctory roles. They seldom perform any authoritative role, more so when they happen to be single. Quashing this trend was this bindaas bride who took a stand against the narrow-minded patriarchal norms by having her mother, perform her kanyadaan. This ritual is usually done by the bride’s father, and when Sandhya had her single mother, Raji Sharma perform it, it symbolized the special role she had played in her life. We are all for this desi bride’s progressive aesthetic!
4. This Bride Who Asked For This Unique Mehr
In today’s world when women insist on getting a prenup before tying the knot don’t you think it’s very unusual for a bride to ask for her mehr to be in the form of books? Mehr is an obligatory payment in the form of money, possessions, promises, etc. which is promised by the groom to his bride. It is often paid in terms of gold or cash. But Kerala’s Sahla Nechiyil didn’t want her wedding to be defined by the amount of gold she got in her wedding, so she asked for something she could truly appreciate — books! According to Islamic tradition, mehr is the right of a woman, and by exercising this right in her own terms, Sahla set a great example for other hopeful brides.
5. This Bride Who Mounted The Ghodi For Her Own Baaraat
Why should boys have all the fun? Perhaps this is the thought that was racing through this desi bride’s mind who decided to take out her own wedding procession. Instead of waiting for her groom to show up with band, baaja, baraat, Rajasthan’s Jiya Sharma, showed up on the ghodi herself, with her friends dancing in the baraat behind her!
Not only was this bold move supported by her in-laws and her groom, but they concurred with Jiya that it sent out a strong message in support of women empowerment. We applaud Jiya’s move of dismantling the patriarchy from within by reinventing tradition!
Sassy, socially woke, and full of swag — these bindaas brides perfectly embody the spirit of their millennial generation. By reinventing the archaic and orthodox wedding traditions, they proved to the world that it’s possible to homage to your culture in a modern and socially conscious way.
Which of these brides won your heart? Share your views with us in the comments section.
