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Maharashtra bride takes a toilet as wedding gift!
Akola (Maharashtra), May 16
A toilet stole the show at a traditional Maharashtrian marriage here.
The
prefabricated toilet with a water closet, a wash-basin and mirror
standing around one foot above the ground, was the considerate wedding
gift on Friday evening from the bride's parents since the bridegroom's
family did not have one in their home.
A few weeks ago, when
Akola resident Chaitali D. Galakhe's marriage was fixed with Devendra
Makhode of Yavatmal, she was alarmed to discover that her in-laws' home
lacked a toilet and the family went in the open to attend their nature's
call.
"At the time of finalising the marriage, I had no idea,
but later I found that my in-laws home had no toilet. I discussed the
issue with my parents and sisters in detail," Chaitali told mediapersons
after her unique wedding present was unveiled before the invitees on
Friday evening.
The farmer's daughter, used to a proper toilet at
her home, made a one-point demand to her family: "I am not interested
in a television, refrigerator or a washing machine or gold jewellery as a
wedding gift... I only want a ready-made toilet which I can carry to my
in-laws home."
Initially her father Dilip Galakhe found the
demand ridiculous and thought she had gone bonkers, but soon he was
convinced. It was decided to "make her happy" by fulfilling her wish
before marriage.
A pre-fabricated toilet was ordered for Chaitali
from a local manufacturer which would cost a hefty Rs.18,000 -- around
the cost of a medium TV, fridge or washer.
When the manufacturer casually enquired the need for the pre-fabricated toilet, he was pleasantly surprised.
A
local volunteer for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachha Bharat
Abhiyaan, he decided to chip in -- "I have built it and given it to the
family for only Rs.12,000 -- only recovering the actual costs," he told
the media.
Though the Glakhes apprehended ridicule by the
villagers and scorn from the in-laws' side, the 'toilet gift' turned out
to be most admired present at the wedding with the guests 'oohing,
aahing' after inspecting it inside out.
Local girls who attended
the marriage ceremonies from both sides (the girl's and the boy's) said
they were "hugely inspired" by Chaitali's courage in making the toilet
demand.
"Several of us are planning to get married soon and we
shall enquire whether the boy's side have proper toilet facilities... If
not, then this idea will help us," said one girl.
Surrounded by
the people congratulating them, the smiling bridegroom Devendra and the
shy Chaitali along with their families, kept glancing at their coveted
acquisition which would be a 'lifelong companion'.