www.ambiente.us NOVEMBER | NOVIEMBRE 2008
Swedish lesbians marry at Taj Mahal
Two young Swedish women tied the knot at the weekend
in the first known lesbian wedding at the Taj Mahal, India's
ethereal monument to love.
The couple, known only as Sandra and Sarah, followed
Hindu rituals during the ceremony, which was conducted
by a priest at the Mahadeva Shiva temple near the
Taj Mahal in the town of Agra.
After exchanging garlands, Sandra, 19, marked the head
of 18-year-old Sarah with vermilion. They then made
seven circuits around a fire in the traditional marriage
custom.
The priest, Dharm Das, initially refused to marry the couple but relented after they gave an offering to the
temple and said they would be his life-long disciples, reports said.
"Although the Hindu system of marriage doesn't allow such relationships or marriages, I am impressed with
the love that the two women have for the monument of love," Das told the Mail Today.
"They had also argued that their Swedish society allows such kind of marriages."
The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his second wife Mumtaz Mahal who died
giving birth in 1631.
At Saturday's ceremony, Sandra acted as the groom while Sarah played the role of the coy bride, newspapers
reported.
"We were in love with each other since childhood," Sandra said. "A few months ago we came to Agra and
were mesmerised by the Taj Mahal.
"Both of us had read extensively about the emperor and his love and decided to draw a parallel and get
married in the proximity of the Taj."
The couple live together in New Delhi working for a children's charity, reports said.
The priest said the ceremony had attracted much local curiosity as homosexuality is illegal in India.
"Since it was practically a once-in-a-blue moon event in Agra, a large number of people gathered outside the
temple for a glimpse of the couple," he said.
One priest told the Times of India that "foreigners are mocking our system and misusing the liberal
parameters. Such waywardness must be stopped."
Pareja de lesbianas contrae matrimonio en el Taj Mahal
Dos lesbianas oriundas de Suecia rompieron una barrera en India al contraer matrimonio en el Taj Mahal.
Las jóvenes mujeres, Sara y Sandra, estaban viviendo juntas en la capital nacional de India, Nueva Delhi,
durante el último año y decidieron 'solemnizar' su matrimonio de acuerdo a los ritos del Vedic, una disciplina
registrada en los textos sagrados más antiguos del hinduismo.
Las recién casadas aseguraron sentirse muy felices de haber contraído matrimonio en el Taj Mahal,
conocido como el monumento del amor y por ser una de las Siete Maravillas del Mundo.
Baba Dharam Das, el sacerdote del templo, declaró que a pesar de sentir cierto recelo, cuando las dos
mujeres le aseguraron estar enamoradas y le expresaron su deseo de contraer matrimonio, decidió
solemnizar la boda.
"Estas dos extranjeras vinieron aquí y nos dijeron que querían casarse bajo los rituales del hinduismo. Yo
decidí oficiar su matrimonio y ellas ahora están muy felices", aseguró Das.
Copyright © AP & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
Swedish lesbians marry at Taj Mahal
Two young Swedish women tied the knot at the weekend
in the first known lesbian wedding at the Taj Mahal, India's
ethereal monument to love.
The couple, known only as Sandra and Sarah, followed
Hindu rituals during the ceremony, which was conducted
by a priest at the Mahadeva Shiva temple near the
Taj Mahal in the town of Agra.
After exchanging garlands, Sandra, 19, marked the head
of 18-year-old Sarah with vermilion. They then made
seven circuits around a fire in the traditional marriage
custom.
The priest, Dharm Das, initially refused to marry the couple but relented after they gave an offering to the
temple and said they would be his life-long disciples, reports said.
"Although the Hindu system of marriage doesn't allow such relationships or marriages, I am impressed with
the love that the two women have for the monument of love," Das told the Mail Today.
"They had also argued that their Swedish society allows such kind of marriages."
The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his second wife Mumtaz Mahal who died
giving birth in 1631.
At Saturday's ceremony, Sandra acted as the groom while Sarah played the role of the coy bride, newspapers
reported.
"We were in love with each other since childhood," Sandra said. "A few months ago we came to Agra and
were mesmerised by the Taj Mahal.
"Both of us had read extensively about the emperor and his love and decided to draw a parallel and get
married in the proximity of the Taj."
The couple live together in New Delhi working for a children's charity, reports said.
The priest said the ceremony had attracted much local curiosity as homosexuality is illegal in India.
"Since it was practically a once-in-a-blue moon event in Agra, a large number of people gathered outside the
temple for a glimpse of the couple," he said.
One priest told the Times of India that "foreigners are mocking our system and misusing the liberal
parameters. Such waywardness must be stopped."
Pareja de lesbianas contrae matrimonio en el Taj Mahal
Dos lesbianas oriundas de Suecia rompieron una barrera en India al contraer matrimonio en el Taj Mahal.
Las jóvenes mujeres, Sara y Sandra, estaban viviendo juntas en la capital nacional de India, Nueva Delhi,
durante el último año y decidieron 'solemnizar' su matrimonio de acuerdo a los ritos del Vedic, una disciplina
registrada en los textos sagrados más antiguos del hinduismo.
Las recién casadas aseguraron sentirse muy felices de haber contraído matrimonio en el Taj Mahal,
conocido como el monumento del amor y por ser una de las Siete Maravillas del Mundo.
Baba Dharam Das, el sacerdote del templo, declaró que a pesar de sentir cierto recelo, cuando las dos
mujeres le aseguraron estar enamoradas y le expresaron su deseo de contraer matrimonio, decidió
solemnizar la boda.
"Estas dos extranjeras vinieron aquí y nos dijeron que querían casarse bajo los rituales del hinduismo. Yo
decidí oficiar su matrimonio y ellas ahora están muy felices", aseguró Das.
Copyright © AP & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source
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