A 24-year-old woman has created a buzz in Gujarat's Vadodara city with the announcement that she would be marrying herself by undergoing traditional rituals of a Hindu wedding on June 11.
Experts, however, said that a ‘sologamy’ or self-marriage would not have any legal standing in India.
Speaking about her intentions, Kshama Bindu said she wished to break stereotypes and inspire others who are “tired of finding true love.” Ms. Bindu, who identifies as bisexual, also claimed that her marriage will be the first instance of ‘sologamy’ in India.
"At one point in my life, I realised that I don't require a prince charming because I am my own queen. I want the wedding day, but not the next day. That is why I have decided to marry myself on June 11. I will dress up like a bride, take part in rituals, my friends will attend my wedding and then I will come back to my house instead of going with the groom," she told reporters.
Ms. Bindu, who is a working professional, added that her mother, who lives in another city, has given her consent for this unusual "groom-less" wedding.
"I have already booked a pandit (priest) to solemnise my marriage. I have observed that unlike in the West, self marriages are not popular in India. Hence, I have decided to start this trend and inspire others. People may not like my idea, I am confident that I am doing the right thing," she said.
Reacting to comments that she was doing it for publicity, Ms. Bindu said she is already popular on social media as an influencer.
"I just want to break stereotypes and inspire others to love themselves. There are people who are tired of finding love or getting divorced multiple times. Being a bisexual, I was also in love with a man and a woman in the past. But now, I want to give all the love to myself," she said.
Legal experts, however, say that sologamy does not have any legal backing in India.
"As per Indian laws, you cannot marry yourself. There has to be two persons in a marriage. Sologamy is not legal," senior High Court advocate Krishnakant Vakharia said.
Another senior lawyer Chandrakant Gupta said, "The Hindu Marriage Act uses the terminology 'either of the spouse', which simply means that there must be two persons to complete the marriage. Sologamy will never pass the legal scrutiny."
