The Italian couple, who had travelled across the country as tourists, chose the city of the iconic monument to get married in a traditional Hindu ceremony, complete with Vedic chants, seven sacred rounds and the sindoor and mangalsutra rituals.The couple, who hail from Liguria in Italy, have been together for a long time. Their journey through India had already taken them to Haridwar, where they took a dip in the Ganga, and Varanasi, where they visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Their encounters with the country’s spiritual traditions and customs left a lasting impression on them. They eventually decided that India would be where they would begin their married life.
Getting here took some time. Matteo and Katerina had considered tying the knot on several occasions, but their plans kept getting postponed.
During this trip, however, they settled on Agra as the place to make it official. On Tuesday evening at 7 pm, priest Praveen Dutt Sharma solemnised their wedding according to Hindu customs, with traditional Vedic mantras.
The couple embraced the occasion in traditional attire. Matteo wore a dhoti-kurta, while Katerina dressed in a red bridal outfit.
They took seven rounds around the sacred fire and participated in the customary rituals, including sindoordaan and the exchange of mangalsutra.Watch the video here:There was also an effort to ensure that the ceremony meant more to them than simply following unfamiliar customs. As the rituals progressed, Sharma explained the meaning of each mantra in both Hindi and English, helping the couple understand the significance behind the traditions.
Matteo and Katerina took part in the ceremonies with enthusiasm and devotion.After the wedding, the couple spoke about what the experience meant to them. They described the Taj Mahal as the greatest symbol of love and said that getting married according to Hindu rituals in a historic city like Agra was the most special experience of their lives.For two travellers who had arrived in India to explore its sights and traditions, the journey gave them a wedding they had once only planned – and a beginning rooted in a culture that had moved them along the way.- Ends