For this teacher, rites come before rights

Updated On: 13 May, 2023 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar

Sanskrit teacher who has conducted queer marriages speaks about officiating at unconventional unions with its emotions and energies

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Subiksha and Tina in a same-sex marriage on August 31, last year. Saurabh conducted the Devata puja

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, reserved its verdict on pleas seeking legal sanction for same-sex marriages. It will be some more time, (the courts break for summer in a couple of days till June) but there have been statements that have given the queer community plenty of heart. On Tuesday, the court had said marriage is a Constitutional right and not merely a statutory right.

Equal sequel

For some though, rites have come before rights. Saurabh Bondre, multilingual trainer and Sanskrit teacher, has conducted four queer weddings since 2015, and two heterosexual ones. He said, “I have studied the scriptures as part of my MA in Sanskrit. I am not a full-time priest/purohit. I know Sanskrit, I have read scriptures and know about the culture, so I am capable of officiating at weddings. Many from the queer community do know me as a Sanskrit scholar.”

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