Maharashtra Couple Runs 25 Km To Get Married 

No 'ghodi' (mare), cars, 'saat pheras' or a cacophonic wedding procession for a fitness crazy couple from a Maharashtra village who got married in Maharashtra's Satara. Instead, they ran a whopping 25 km to the marriage registrar's office.

The couple from Kaloshi village - bride Poonam R. Chikane and bridegroom Navnath J. Dighe - a professional marathoner, undertook the unique wedding run in order to spread the message of health and well being. Dighe has also completed the annual full Mumbai Marathon in the past.

The duo was clad in a sporting gear of track suits, but both wore the symbolic red turban. The 50-plus 'baraatis' (wedding processionists) were similarly clad in sporting gear of T-shirt and tracks, as hundreds of amused villagers assembled to witness the unusual marriage.

"Our unique marriage was to spread the message of health and physical fitness," a panting Dighe told media after completing the run successfully with his breathless bride.

The entire ‘running wedding’ was completed at a comfortable pace in about 210 minutes (three-and-half hours) before terminating at the marriage registrar’s office for the official formalities.

The run started from a common point in Medha to Satara, at the office of the Registrar of Marriages, where they solemnly exchanged vows and garlands amid loud clapping and cheering as they became husband and wife. According to Dighe, it had taken quite some convincing skills before both the families agreed to this unique marriage and supported them.

The Marathon Association Satara (MAS), of which Dighe is an active member, came forward to host the 'running wedding' and launched a campaign on social media which elicited excellent response. Villagers and teenaged students en route made up for whatever was lacking in the wedding by putting up welcome banners and posters, presenting flowers or garlanding the young couple, performing aarti, blessing them and joining the run for a while.

The entire 'running wedding' was completed at a comfortable pace in about 210 minutes (three-and-half hours) before terminating at the marriage registrar's office for the official formalities.