Love triumphs over disaster; homeless bride ties knot

The family of Manjula R, who abandoned their home during the Kodagu deluge with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, saw their daughter married to Rajish, on Sunday.

Thanks to several organisations that came together, love triumphed over disaster. The marriage took place at the Omkareshwara temple in Madikeri, in rain-ravaged Kodagu on Sunday.

Lions Club, Daivajna Brahmana Samaja, Seva Bharati, and other donors ensured that the couple tie the nuptial knot as per the auspicious time fixed in May. Till last week, the marriage faced postponement as Manjula's family, now living in a relief camp, were grieving the loss of hearth and home.

Annappa R, the brother of the bride, had arranged for a Rs 2 lakh loan and spent thousands on clothes.

“The money lenders have lost everything and we were homeless. This grand marriage was beyond anything I imagined,” he said joyfully.

Speaking to DH, Manjula said she was delighted to see that the whole town attending her marriage like relatives.

“We had nothing. And now I am so happy see my marriage happen,” she added with tears of joy. Her husband Rajish, from Koothuparamba in Kerala, held her hand to show his support.

Lions Club president K K Damodar was dressed up to play the role of the bride's father, while club member Mohan Das wore traditional Kerala attire to represent the groom's family.

Seva Bharati secretary Mahesh Kumar said the marriage was possible, only because of the media coverage of the family's plight. “We didn't do much. It was the positive response from the people after the media coverage, that made this event possible,” he said.

Over 500 people, including flood victims, donors and NGO members who helped to make the marriage happen, attended the event and wished the newly married couple at Brahmanara Kalyana Mantapa, in the heart of Madikeri.

But the bride's family has no home to return to.

“A part of the hill was sliding towards our home at Emmettalu (in Makkanduru) the last time I saw it. We can’t even go there as the road has been cut off. We don’t know where to go. But we are thankful to the people who are helping us here,” said Sumitra, the bride's mother.

Another marriage on Sep 12

The same NGOs that got together to help Manjula, have arranged the marriage of another bride-to-be from Makkanduru. This family too lost their home to the floods.

Rajitha P S will get married to Rajith on September 12 in a grand ceremony like Manjula's.

E P Sanjeeva, Rajitha's father said, most of the marriage clothes he bought with the Rs 60,000 loan were in the house that collapsed during the floods. “At least my daughter will be happy with him,” he said pointing to Rajith, the groom, from Kannur in Kerala.