Dubai: Music composer Anirudh Ravichander and Sunrisers Hyderabad co-owner Kavya Maran have drawn attention with their choice of wedding ceremony in Greece, opting for a traditional Tamil self-respect marriage instead of conventional priest-led Hindu rituals.
The couple tied the knot on November 11 in an intimate destination wedding attended by family members and prominent personalities, including superstar Rajinikanth and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The ceremony became a talking point after photographs showed Anirudh and Kavya exchanging garlands and chains. DMK leader T R B Rajaa subsequently confirmed that the couple had chosen a self-respect marriage, explaining the significance of the tradition.
What is a self-respect marriage?
Also known as Suyamariyathai Thirumanam, the practice originated from the Self-Respect Movement founded by social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy in Tamil Nadu in 1925.
The movement challenged caste discrimination, social inequalities and patriarchal customs, advocating dignity and equality. One of its key principles was that marriage did not require elaborate religious ceremonies or a priest.
Instead, couples can declare their commitment in front of witnesses and exchange garlands, rings or other symbols of marriage.
The practice received legal recognition in Tamil Nadu in 1967 through an amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act. Section 7-A recognizes marriages solemnized through such ceremonies, provided the prescribed legal requirements are met.
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