Kanpur girl, Dubai boy tie nuptial knot in ‘virtual nikah’

Kanpur: Marriages are mostly solemnized when both the bride and bridegroom are physically present but Tuba of Kanpur and Asim of Dubai tied the nuptial knot in virtual ‘marriage mandap” on May 28 due to the lockdown in India.
The experience for the two families was unique as they enjoyed the marriage ceremonies in Kanpur and Dubai in the virtual presence of each other, and it was a simple marriage which was attended by only 20 family members from each side.
Leather merchant Asad Iraqi, who is also general secretary of Leather Industries Welfare Association, had fixed his daughter Tuba’s marriage with Asim, son of Wakeel Ahmad, a businessman of Dubai. Their marriage was to be solemnized on April 12, but had to be postponed due to the lockdown in India.
Asad Iraqi said that he had booked Zubera Madina, the five state hotel of Dubai, for marriage and reception. Around 300 guests had to join the ceremony from India and more than 150 persons had even got the confirmed flight tickets but due to four consecutive lockdowns, the marriage had to be postponed, but later it was decided to solemnize it through video conferencing in a virtual marriage mandap.
“We were going to dispatch our wedding cards to the family members and friends but had to postpone it at the last moment due to the spread of corona virus and lockdown in India”, he added.
This week Asad Iraqi and Wakeel Ahmad in a telephonic conversation discussed the issue and considering the present situation in India and Dubai, decided to solemnize the nikah through video conferencing . Rukhsati (Bidai) would take place later when the situation eases. “We got the nikah ceremony solemnized after our children gave their consents”, Iraqi said.
The ceremony, which began around 2 pm IST and 12.30 pm Dubai time at Asad’s house in Jajmau finished within half an hour. ”The maulvis, present on both sides, completed all the formalities through video conferencing. The bride and groom both were happy along with their family members”, he said.
It was a very simple ceremony with no show off. “Infact, we ( Asad and Wakeel Ahmad) have decided that the money to be spent on the marriage would be used for some other noble work”, Asad said.
“Infact May 28 brought double happiness in Wakeel Ahmad’s house as he had married his daughter on the same day in the presence of same guests”, he added.