Indian Groom Marries Over Video Call After Turkish Employer Denies Leave

In an extraordinary display of modern technology meeting tradition, a couple from India recently tied the knot via video call when the groom’s Turkish employer denied him leave for his wedding. The unique ceremony took place with the groom in Türkiye and the bride in Himachal Pradesh, India, fulfilling a longstanding desire of the bride’s ailing grandfather to witness his granddaughter’s marriage.

The groom, Adnan Muhammad, hails from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, and had planned to travel to India for his wedding. However, when his employer in Türkiye refused to grant him leave, the couple faced an unusual challenge. The situation was further complicated by the bride’s grandfather’s wish to see the marriage, making it essential for the wedding to take place promptly.

Determined to find a solution, the families decided on a virtual wedding ceremony. The groom’s family traveled from Bilaspur to Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, where the bride was located, bringing the baraat with them. The entire event was officiated by a qazi over a video call, with both bride and groom agreeing to the marriage by saying “qubool hai” three times, a traditional affirmation in Islamic marriage rituals.

The virtual nikah, reported by PTI and NDTV, wasn’t the first of its kind in the region. In July 2023, a couple in Himachal Pradesh, Ashish Singha and Shivani Thakur, also conducted a virtual wedding due to severe weather, including flash floods and landslides. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, another Indian couple, Vignesh KM and Anjali Ranjith from Kerala, married via Zoom with e-invitations that included a Zoom ID and password for guests to witness the event online.

These unique stories underscore how virtual weddings are becoming increasingly popular as families and couples navigate challenging circumstances.