Uttar Pradesh: A lesbian couple from West Bengal, 28-year-old Jayashree Rahul and 23-year-old Rakhi Das tied the knot in a traditional ceremony at a temple in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh. Hailing from South 24 Parganas district, the couple worked in an orchestra in Deoria, where they met and fell in love with each other.
Jayashree and Rakhi first obtained a notarised affidavit for their marriage, followed by a traditional wedding ceremony at the Bhagada Bhavani temple in Bhatpar Rani in Deoria on Monday, said Munna Pal, in whose orchestra the two women work.
Pal further said the couple was first denied permission for marriage at the Dirgeshwarnath temple as Mahant Jagannath Maharaj refused to conduct the ceremony citing the lack of permission from higher authorities in the district.
The couple then sought an alternative route and obtained a notarised affidavit for marriage. Afterwards, they went to Bhagada Bhawani temple in Majhauliraj and got married in the presence of the priest of the temple.
After the wedding, the couple, in a statement shared how their love story began and the challenges they faced that ultimately strengthened their commitment towards each other.
