Wedding after five decades of live-in relationship

It was certainly a marriage with a difference, for it was solemnised after more than five decades of living together.

Among the wedding guests were the couple’s grandsons, granddaughters and sons-in-law.

Bhanpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district, about 40 km from here, was witness to a unique marriage on Saturday, when 75-year-old Sukru Rawat and 62-year old Rajpata Devi tied the nuptial knot in a grand ceremony.

Accompanied by a band, which played Bollywood songs, the wedding party with the septuagenarian groom went around the village before getting back to his house. After all, he was the host and the guest. Rajpata’s brothers were also in attendance.

Rawat had made elaborate arrangements for the occasion. He sent invitations to the village panchayat chief and other elected representatives. Besides the invited guests, a large number of curious onlookers also witnessed the wedding.

According to reports, Rawat, a farmer, had been living with Rajpata for over 50 years, though they were never formally married.

The two had met at a function and had fallen in love. The couple has five children, all of whom are married.

“I had thought of formally marrying her (Rajpata) on several occasions, but it never materialised. There were times when I did not have money... sometimes it occurred to me that there was no need (to get married),” Sukru said.

“I feel relieved now,” he said.