Indo-Nepalese cross-border weddings fall apart
The Madhesis have been protesting against the Nepali state and its newly adopted Constitution, which limits their role. However, the stir has had an unexpected sideeffect: cross-border marriages have started falling through.
Marriages between people living on both sides of the IndoNepal border have been a longstanding tradition. But with the agitation along the border showing no signs of ceasing, no marriage party has crossed over to India from Nepal or vice versa, though ten days of the auspicious Hindu marriage month of Mangsir have passed.
“The agitation has indeed subverted more than the Nepalese economy. It has torn to shreds the social fabric across Nepal... With transport and logistics difficult to arrange, many marriages this season... have fallen through,” said Kamalnath Mishra, a teacher at Forbesganj.
Sohan Jha of Debdahi village in Nepal across Jaynagar border had taken a whole year finalising a marriage proposal for his son. But now, he finds no way through the blockade to Kathmandu, where his would be daughter-in-law lives. After days of anguish, he has postponed it. “There are no buses available to take my relatives to Kathamandu as there is no petrol due to blockade. Even if there were buses, the fare of 10,000 Nepali rupees, is now one lakh (`60,000). A bottle of mineral water, which cost 9 Nepali rupees is sold for upto 1,000. Counting the hotel expenses... it will cost upwards of 15 lakh Nepali rupees,” he said.
The case of Ripusudan Tiwari, 23, is unique. He has to marry a Nepali girl, whom he met in Delhi. After two years, both families agreed to solemnise their marriage but the agitation, for now, has brought their dream to a standstill.