Marriage is an institution that is observed as a sacred festival in respective communities. If we talk about marriages in India and Pakistan, they begin with the Haldi ceremony and conclude with the Vidai ceremony. Now in Pakistan, fake marriages are becoming a trend. In such marriages, the groom is not a boy but a girl, and the bride is also a girl.
The marriage rituals remain the same. Guests participate in the event, there are full-fledged celebrations, and attendees enjoy each ceremony.
Fake marriages gain popularity
According to a DW report, fake marriages have become popular in Pakistan. The ambience is similar to real marriages, and the decorations are on par with any traditional wedding. The only exception is that there is no binding in the marriage on either side and no family pressure.
A similar marriage was organised at Lahore University of Management Sciences. The event not only drew the attention of national media but also sparked discussions on international and social media. Later, such events began taking place at several other locations. Women participate in these celebrations without any pressure on them.
Protests erupt after same-sex wedding event
After a marriage between two girls, a massive protest took place at the university. Protesters opposed the event, considering it a same-sex marriage. According to the former president of the university’s student organisation, both girls were brutally trolled online. People portrayed the university as an elite institution while terming it completely cut off from education, he said. He added that the university aims to excel in academics along with social activities.
Following the protest, the university administration took steps to ensure the privacy and security of students. The administration banned the online posting of photos and videos. Besides this, only those people are allowed to attend who come purely for entertainment purposes.
Girl faced backlash
In 2023, the girl who had participated in the fake marriage told DW that she faced several problems, and her family also imposed restrictions on her. The girl who had posed as the groom did not face much impact.
After the fake marriage at Lahore University, such events have been on the rise in Pakistan. Following the surge of these events, several groups have come forward and shown interest in organising them.
Group hosts Mehndi event for women
One such group, “Hunur Creative Market,” organised a Mehndi event for women with the help of content creators, artists, and event managers. In this event, women enjoy three days of celebrations, during which they dance and apply Mehndi.
