Five Russian Couples Wed in Vedic Style

Bengaluru, Feb 15 (IANS) Five Russian couples were married here Sunday in the Vedic tradition at the Art of Living (AoL) foundation's international centre here.

"Hindu priests solemnised the wedding by chanting Vedic hymns as the five Russian couples tied the nuptial knot and vowed to live together for life in accordance with the Vedic tradition," the foundation said in a statement.

It, however, did not provide details of the couples, including their names, religion, occupation and where they live in Russia.

The volunteer-based NGO, founded in 1981 by Indian spiritual leader Sri Ravi Shankar, hosts people from different countries the world over who decide marry in Vedic style as millions of Hindus do.

"In the Vedic tradition, a wedding is performed by chanting ancient hymns to invoke nature's five elements to sanctify the ceremony. Seven promises made while going around a holy fire signify marriage to live together," AoL faculty member Dinesh Kashikar.

A few hundreds of the foundation's members from countries across Asia, Europe, North America and South America married at the centre here in the ancient Vedic style over the last two decades.