Locals praise cycling groom
A 10km journey has been his ticket to fame. Vinay Kumar is being hailed a hero in his Bojhi village in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Kumar, along with his friends, took his baraat (a celebratory wedding procession for the groom involving live music and dancing) to Rajgarh village on Friday.
What made the baraat different was that all those in the procession cycled and wore face shields and masks.
“I wanted to give a clear message that social distancing is important. This would not have been possible in a car or a bus, so we cycled to the bride’s house. This is my way of fighting against the second wave of coronavirus,” said Kumar.
He works in a private factory in Pratapgarh and participates in environmental awareness campaigns.
When the groom reached the bride’s village, with limited members in his wedding procession, the locals praised him instead of ridiculing him. They took photographs and videos of Kumar and his entourage.
His family said they avoided unnecessary expenses during the pandemic and chose to create awareness about environmental conservation. They invited a limited number of guests, so they could adhere to physical distancing regulations.
Ajay Krantikari, the head of Paryawaran Sena, an organisation working for environmental protection, said: “We have been constantly promoting the concept of green weddings in villages, blocks and cities across the country. In the coronavirus wave, a limited number of baraatis peddled from one village to another to spread the message of social distancing and wearing of masks.”
Krantikari had convinced Kumar and his family to cycle to the bride’s home. |