New Delhi: Even as the tension between Russia and Ukraine remains, love has transcended all boundaries. Sergei Novikov, a Russian national tied knot with his Ukrainian girlfriend Elona Bramoka on August 2 in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala, reported news agency ANI. The couple had been in a relationship for two years, and had been living in Dharamkot village, known as the Tel Aviv of Himachal Pradesh, for about a year, as per a report by the Hindustan Times.
The marriage took place as per Hindu traditions at the Radha Krishan temple of Divya Ashram at Kharota village amid chants of holy mantras in presence of local wedding guests and the couple's friends and family members from abroad, as per the report.
The bride and groom adorned traditional Indian outfits for the wedding with Novikov wearing a kurta pyjama, achkan, pagdi, and sehra while Elona donned lehnga-choli and red embroidered dupatta. As the couple took seven vows, a translator helped the couple with the meaning of rituals and hymns while they took the seven circumambulations around the sacred fire.
The host of the event, Vinod Sharma said that it was nice to see that more and more foreigners are turning to Hinduism, quoted the HT report. Sharma's family performed all the rituals of the wedding including Elona's 'kanyadaan'. The priest who solemnised the marriage, Raman Sharma, said that he was happy to get the opportunity to solemnise the marriage of the unique couple and also explained to the couple the meaning of 'Sanatan dharma' and the significance of marriage.
The guest also feasted on Kangri Dham prepared by a local chef.