A marriage rooted in green values
In the serene village of Samode near Jaipur, a quiet revolution in matrimonial tradition unfolded on Saturday as two young professionals redefined what a modern Hindu marriage can embody. Amid the rustle of peacocks and the winter sky, Pooja Malik and Lakshya Pawan Shyam Kaura celebrated a union free from dowry, expectations, or demands, an intimate gathering grounded in values rather than valuables.
Both accomplished in their own right: Lakshya, a Princeton University graduate, and Pooja, an alumna of MICA, Ahmedabad, and Lady Irwin College, the couple exemplifies a generation that harmonizes global learning with Indian ethics. Their families, rooted in equality and mutual respect, chose a wedding that prioritised conscience over custom.
In a symbolic gesture, the fathers of the bride and groom exchanged a bonsai planter, marking their commitment to a zero-dowry union. The couple also planted a sapling near the mandap, while each of the thirty guests received seed packets to nurture at home- a living reminder that meaningful change begins with small and deliberate actions.
“This Green Marriage celebrates not wealth, but values; not consumption, but contribution. It is a quiet revolution in how India can celebrate love responsibly,” said Sanjiv Kaura, father of the groom.
By rejecting extravagant displays and traditional transactional customs, the families emphasised simplicity, sustainability, and social responsibility. The ceremony sent a clear message that modern weddings can honour love, equality, and environmental stewardship simultaneously. The couple have shown that weddings need not be a spectacle of consumption but can be powerful statements of conscience, sowing seeds, both literally and metaphorically for a future where dignity, respect and sustainability flourish under one canopy of love.
