Why Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran Wedding Is Trending Today
The topic is trending following the Greece wedding of composer Anirudh Ravichander and Sunrisers Hyderabad co-owner Kavya Maran. Rather than conventional religious rituals, the pair chose a non-Vedic self-respect marriage without priests. DMK leader T R B Rajaa verified details of their ceremony online after pictures circulated on social media.
What happened
- 1925
Social reformer Periyar launches the Self-Respect Movement, promoting simple marriages free from caste rules and priestly authority [1].
- 1967
Tamil Nadu passes legislation amending the Hindu Marriage Act to formally recognize self-respect weddings [1].
- Jan 1968
The legal amendment granting official status to self-respect marriages goes into effect [1].
- 2023
India's Supreme Court clarifies that self-respect ceremonies do not need public staging to be legally valid [1].
- Nov 2026
Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran marry in Greece via a self-respect ceremony, as confirmed by T R B Rajaa [1].
What you need to know
Self-respect marriages permit couples to marry by swapping garlands, rings, or a thali without priests or Sanskrit prayers.
The ceremony requires only a simple declaration of mutual consent before friends, relatives, or witnesses in a language the couple understands.
Under Section 7-A of the Hindu Marriage Act, these unions have been legally valid in Tamil Nadu since 1968.
The exact date of the wedding in Greece was not specified in reports beyond taking place on a recent Wednesday.
Background
Known as Suyamariyathai Thirumanam in Tamil, self-respect marriage is a century-old tradition originating in Tamil Nadu. Social reformer E V Ramasamy, widely known as Periyar, established the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 to challenge caste hierarchy, dowry practices, and the dominance of priests over wedding rituals. He advocated for marriages built on mutual consent between equals rather than religious dictates or family control.
Historically, traditional Hindu weddings in the region were conducted by Brahmin priests performing rites in Sanskrit, a language many marrying couples did not understand. Periyar's movement encouraged inter-caste unions and widow remarriage, offering a streamlined process where couples could marry simply by declaring their union and exchanging garlands, rings, or a wedding chain before witnesses.
The state of Tamil Nadu legally recognized these ceremonies under C N Annadurai's DMK government through a 1967 amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act, which took effect in 1968. In 2023, the Supreme Court of India upheld the law, ruling that couples can hold these ceremonies privately without needing public announcements.
Questions people ask
What is a self-respect marriage?
It is a non-Vedic marriage tradition from Tamil Nadu that eliminates priests and Sanskrit rituals, relying instead on mutual consent and exchanging garlands, rings, or a wedding necklace.
How did Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran marry?
According to DMK leader T R B Rajaa, the couple exchanged garlands and wedding chains in Greece in the presence of family and friends.
Is a self-respect marriage legally valid?
Yes, Section 7-A of the Hindu Marriage Act legalizes self-respect marriages in Tamil Nadu, and India's Supreme Court reaffirmed their legal standing in 2023.
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.