The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : London bride steals the show

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

London bride steals the show

Staff Reporter

Marries Kommugiri Koteswara Rao from Kacharam

– Photo: G. N. Rao

In wedlock: Melanie with her parents, Koteswar Rao during a ceremonial procession in Kacharam village.

KHAMMAM: A girl from London and her Indian friend were united in wedlock at a simple wedding ceremony organised in the tiny village of Kacharam on Wednesday. The wedding was witnessed by thousands of people who made a beeline to the place from far off places.

Melanie, 21, a girl who had just completed her fine arts degree had been in love with Kommugiri Koteswara Rao, a resident of Kacharam. Mr. Rao went to London in 1999 as part of a troupe of Buddhist preachers from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. A postgraduate in literature, he, at one stage, preferred to tread the same line and turned an instructor.

Quite a revelation

Dedicated to the cause of Buddhism and propagation of the faith and its traditions, Mr. Rao won the hearts of many while working in London.

Ms. Melanie, who attended the meditation and Damma classes conducted by Mr. Rao, could discover his inner beauty. Her friendship with the Indian boy turned into love.

As he revealed the intention to marry the girl, his brothers were initially nonplussed. But they agreed to the proposal after knowing about the girl’s family.

Ms. Melanie’s father, a scientist, was also impressed by the hard way Mr. Rao came up in life and gave the green signal for the marriage.

Ms. Melanie and her parents came to India on the Christmas day and spent a few days in studying the culture and traditions of the family of the bridegroom. The marriage was solemnised by a Buddhist priest Dammachari Akasha Bhadra. The whole village showered blessings on the couple.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh