Wedding Bells Ring in Voting Awareness: Pune based bride and groom swap traditional vows for Pledge to Vote

Shubham Gore and Pranita Sonke’s Wedding Turns Into Election Awareness Drive, Encouraging Guests to Exercise Their Voting Rights

In a unique twist to the age-old wedding ceremony, Shubham Gore and Pranita Sonke, a couple from Pune, tied the knot at Thopate Lawns in Kalewadi amidst a fervent call for civic duty. Diverging from the conventional exchange of traditional vows, the bride and groom, with banners in hand, led their guests in chanting vows to vote, resonating the importance of active participation in democracy.

Under the guidance of Pune Collector and District Election Officer, Suhas Diwase, who also serves as the Returning Officer of Maval, the wedding ceremony became a platform for election awareness. Prioritizing civic responsibility over customary rituals, the couple, along with their guests, pledged to exercise their voting rights before the auspicious shower of ‘akshata,’ symbolizing the commencement of their journey together.

The initiative, meticulously organized by Archana Yadav, Assistant Returning Officer of Pimpri Assembly Office, alongside Public Relations Officer Praful Puranik and Nodal Supervisor Rajendra Kangude from the Municipal Corporation, aimed to instill a sense of duty and engagement among the attendees. Thousands of well-wishers graced the occasion, marking their commitment to casting their votes in the upcoming elections.

With the first phase of elections scheduled for May 7 in Baramati, one of the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Pune, and the remaining three seats, Pune-Maval-Shirur, slated for the fourth phase on May 13, the wedding-turned-awareness drive sets a precedent for marrying celebrations with social consciousness.