In Telangana’s Mahabubabad district, an elderly couple has been observing a deeply emotional ritual by conducting a symbolic wedding ceremony every year for their late son and his partner, who both died by suicide more than 22 years ago. Over time, what began as a personal act of remembrance has gradually turned into a community event, drawing participation from people across their village and nearby areas.
The couple, Lalu and Sukkamma, lost their son Ram Koti in 2003 after he took his own life when his relationship faced opposition from the girl’s family. Tragically, within about 20 days of his death, the young woman also died by suicide, leaving both families shattered and in grief.
According to Sukkamma, the idea for the ritual originated from a dream in which her son appeared and expressed his wish for a temple to be built and for his marriage to be performed. Acting on this, the couple constructed a small shrine within their home, where they installed idols representing Ram Koti and the young woman, placing them side by side as a symbolic union.
Since then, every year on the occasion of Sri Rama Navami, they have been organizing a ceremonial “kalyanam” for the idols. The ritual is carried out with full traditional practices, including prayers, offerings, and customary wedding procedures, symbolically portraying the couple as Lord Rama and Sita.
Sri Rama Navami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Rama and is also associated with the divine wedding of Rama and Sita, is widely celebrated across Telangana with similar ceremonial traditions in temples. The couple explains that their annual observance is inspired by these religious customs.
Over the years, the ceremony has grown beyond a private family ritual into a shared cultural event. Relatives, neighbors, and people from surrounding regions gather to witness the symbolic wedding and participate in the prayers and offerings.
For Lalu and Sukkamma, this yearly ceremony serves as a heartfelt tribute to their son and a way to honor a relationship that could not find fulfillment during their lifetimes.
