Coronavirus: ‘Great Indian Pandemic Wedding’ held in Covid-19 centre after bride tests positive

Name: Indian bride ties the knot in protective suit after testing positive for coronavirus on wedding day
Uploaded: 2020-12-07T15:21:38.000Z
Duration: 57 s
Description: Indian bride ties the knot in protective suit after testing positive for coronavirus on wedding day

Authorities had to stop the bride and her family from reaching the wedding venue in Rajasthan after her coronavirus test results were confirmed

They decided to move the wedding ceremony, with the couple, priest and three relatives all donning full protective gear

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

00:57

Indian bride ties the knot in protective suit after testing positive for coronavirus on wedding day

dpa

Published: 11:21pm, 7 Dec 2020Updated: 10:30am, 8 Dec 2020

A couple in northern India decided to get married at a Covid-19 care centre, donning protective suits for the ceremony, after the bride tested positive on their wedding day.

Photos shared by health authorities quickly went viral on social media. They show the couple, the priest and three close relatives wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) gear as the pair took their marital vows in a traditional Hindu ceremony that involved them making rounds around a sacred fire.

Three regional officials were also present at the wedding in Rajasthan state’s Baran district on Sunday, to ensure it was done in accordance with “full Covid-19 protocol” including ensuring physical distancing, said the region’s chief medical officer, Sampat Raj Nagar.

The marriage was replete with drama as health teams received the Covid-19 results at the last minute, stopping the bride and her family from reaching the wedding venue and instructed them to report to the Covid-19 centre instead.

“The families were in a dilemma, but insisted that, according to customs, they had to go ahead with the wedding since some initial rituals were done. Respecting their sentiments, the administration gave the approval for the marriage at the centre with all necessary checks,” said local health official Sheikh Arif, who supervised the wedding.