Panchayat resolves marriage tangle in UP's Farrukhabad

KANPUR: Minutes before solemnising her wedding vows, Farrukhabad's Choti discovered to her horror that the man she was about to exchange nuptial garlands with was not the one her parents had chosen, but was his paternal aunt's son.
The prenuptial ceremony was about to take place, but she did not hesitate and walked out of the wedding, backed by her family and relatives. The matter was, however, amicably resolved following a 'panchayat', and marriage of Choti was solemnised with boy's cousin Harikishan.
The bride's father, a native of Jogpur village in Farrukhabad district in UP, stated the man he had matched with his daughter Choti was Ram Prakash from Tos village in Mathura district. Their marriage was to be solemnised on Monday night.
As per the norm, when the bride's relatives went to the 'janwasa' to escort the groom and other 'baraatis' to the `jaimaal' venue, things seemed odd.
The boy's parents neither allowed them to enter 'Janwasa' nor did the boy come out to join the guests. His parents explained that Ram Prakash was getting ready for 'Jaimaal' ceremony. But, the girl's relatives became concerned when the boy did not show up even as the 'muhurat (the auspicious moment)' was fast approaching. Questioned by the girl's relatives, the groom's parents 'revealed' that the boy had run away to Delhi, as he did not like the alliance.
As soon as the matter came to light, the girl ran away from the `shaadi mandap' and refused to marry the boy's cousin. Other members of the groom's family attempted to persuade the angry bride. The bride refused to proceed with the wedding rituals, saying she could not accept as her husband a man who replaced her 'actual- groom'.
Her own family too understood her grievance, and asked the groom and his family to return.
Her parents and other relatives lodged a complaint. Police rushed to the spot and pacified the two sides. The groom's family pleaded with the village `panchayat' to offer them a solution that would allow them to escape further humiliation. Later, a 'panchayat' was called, and the bride's side decided to go ahead with the latest 'match'.