A 23-year-old woman from Khandwa has formally embraced Sanatan Dharma and married her Hindu fiance in a ceremony steeped in Vedic tradition, saying she was moved by the faith’s “profound respect for women”.
Formerly known as Shifa Rain, she adopted the name Shanvi moments before tying the knot with Rahul Verma inside the historic Mahadevgarh Shiva temple on 30 July.
‘Ghar Wapsi’ inspired by reverence for women
Speaking to reporters after the rites, Shanvi said Sanatan Dharma had long resonated with her because “Maa Sita and Durga are worshipped, and women are honoured as forms of Shakti”. “I felt welcomed and valued,” she added, noting that her decision was voluntary and rooted in childhood dreams in which Hindu deities “blessed” her.
Temple wedding amid vedic chants
The couple’s nuptials began at dawn with a Rudrabhishek, the ceremonial ablution of Bhagwan Shiv, performed by Pandit Ashwin Khede. Shanvi walked seven sacred circuits (saptapadi) around the fire while hundreds of women in attendance sang traditional Mangal ballads, their ululations echoing beneath the ancient stone vaults of Mahadevgarh.
Local resident Krishna Patel performed the kanyadaan, gifting the newlyweds a beautifully bound copy of Shri Ramcharit Manas. “It symbolises moral strength and marital harmony,” Patel said.
Khandwa police confirmed that the couple completed an affidavit under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act and registered their marriage at the local sub-registrar’s office, fulfilling all legal requirements. “Consent was clear and documents are in order,” said Station House Officer Rajesh Rawat.
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