Udupi: In a rare and heart-warming instance of tradition meeting technology, a bride and groom conducted their engagement ceremony virtually after the groom was unable to travel to India due to work commitments. The unique engagement took place on December 17 at Saraswathi Sabhabhavan in Chitpady, Udupi, with the groom participating through a video call from Canada.
The groom, Suhas S, hails from Chakrabavi village in Magadi taluk, while the bride, Megha, is a resident of Udupi. With their wedding scheduled for January 7 and 8, the families decided not to postpone the engagement and instead opted for an online ceremony to adhere to the planned wedding dates.
Work commitments lead to virtual ceremony
Suhas is currently employed in Canada and was unable to secure leave from work to travel to India in time for the engagement. After discussions between both families, a mutual decision was taken to conduct the engagement virtually, ensuring that traditional rituals were observed despite the geographical distance.
The engagement ceremony was held in Udupi during the morning hours, while it was past midnight in Canada due to the time difference. Despite the late hour, Suhas joined the ceremony through a video call and actively participated in the rituals.
Rings exchanged through video call
During the ceremony, Suhas showed the engagement ring to the camera as part of the ritual, symbolically exchanging rings with Megha, who was physically present at the venue. Megha attended the function along with her family members, relatives and well-wishers, who gathered at Saraswathi Sabhabhavan.
The venue was decorated as per tradition, and the ceremony followed customary practices, highlighting the family’s effort to maintain cultural values while adapting to modern constraints.
Traditional rituals conducted online
Elders from both families performed aarti and offered mantrakshate, conveying their blessings to the couple through the video call. The priest conducted the engagement rituals virtually, chanting prayers and guiding the proceedings online, ensuring that religious customs were followed appropriately.
Family members present at the venue said the ceremony felt complete despite the groom’s physical absence, as he remained connected throughout the event and interacted with elders and relatives.
Family shares their experience
Speaking about the decision, Gauri Sridhar, the groom’s mother, said the family chose a virtual engagement as there was no alternative given Suhas’s inability to travel from Canada.
“Since our son could not come from Canada due to work commitments, we decided to hold the engagement online. Though it was late at night there, he was present through the video call. Except for his physical absence, everything went smoothly,” she said.
She added that technology helped bridge the distance and allowed the family to proceed with important milestones without delay.
Reflecting changing times
The virtual engagement has drawn attention for its innovative approach, reflecting how families are increasingly using digital platforms to adapt traditional ceremonies to modern-day challenges. With many young professionals working abroad, such arrangements are becoming more acceptable, especially when travel constraints arise.
Relatives attending the ceremony said the event demonstrated how traditions can be preserved even in unconventional formats, without compromising on rituals or family involvement.
Wedding to be held in January
According to family members, Suhas is expected to travel to India for the wedding ceremonies scheduled for January 7 and 8. Preparations for the wedding are underway, and the families expressed happiness that the engagement could be conducted successfully despite logistical challenges.
Conclusion
The virtual engagement ceremony in Udupi stands as a unique example of blending tradition with technology. While physical presence remains important in Indian rituals, this incident highlights how families are finding meaningful ways to celebrate milestones even across continents, ensuring that customs, blessings and emotional connections remain intact.