Kottayam: A couple in Alappuzha faced an unusual hurdle in reaching their wedding venue as the temple premises was waterlogged on Monday. They ultimately tied the knot floating in a copper vessel provided by the temple authorities.
Aakash Kunjumon, 26, a Thakazhy native, and Aiswarya A, 22, an Ambalappuzha native, both working in the Covid ward of a private hospital in Chengannur had adjusted their hospital duties to be free on Monday to get married.
However, the Panayannarkavu temple in Thalavady was affected by unexpected floods. The two were determined to get married on the day and the temple authorities provided a copper vessel for the couple to sail till the kalyana mandapam in the water-filled temple auditorium. They sailed around 300m in the vessel through the water. Luckily for them, the flood waters had not entered the kalyana mandapam. After the marriage, the couple circumambulated the sanctum sanctorum in the vessel.
Speaking to TOI, Aakash said that when he contacted the temple authorities on Sunday, they assured him all support for the conduct of the marriage.
Aakash is a cleaning staff of the hospital while Aiswarya is a nursing assistant. They were in courtship for many years and on October 15 both registered their marriage as Aiswarya’s family was against the relationship. Subsequently, both decided to get married as per Hindu traditions. Though they had approached other temples, according to Covid protocol they had to apply 15 days in advance.
“This was not possible for us. We had applied for leave on the same day well in advance. We were not in a position to get the leave on the same day again,” Aakash said. Luckily for the couple, the temple in Thalavady agreed to conduct the marriage.
The couple visited Edathua Church before proceeding to Aakash’s house. “We had fallen in love while working at the health centre in Edathua. So we prayed at the church here,” he added.
