Russian boy marries Ukrainian girlfriend in Dharamshala

SHIMLA: Amid the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Sergei Novikov, a Russian settled in Israel, married his girlfriend Elona Bramoka from Ukraine at Divya Ashram Kharota near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday according to the traditions of Sanatan Dharma.


To ensure that couple feel like “at home” the locals who attended the marriage performed all the rituals and danced on the tunes traditional Himachali folk songs.

For the 'videshi shaadi in desi style' arrangement of Kangri dham was made for the guests.

Sergei Novikov and Elona Bramoka were in a relationship for the past two years and despite the fierce war between Russia and Ukraine, the couple decided to solemnize their marriage for which they selected Dharamshala.

Pandit Sandeep Sharma of Divya Ashram Kharota said that Sergei and Elona were staying at Dharamkot near Dharamshala for the past one year.

“Our Pandit Raman Sharma solemnized their marriage and told them about the importance of marriage as per the traditions of the Sanatan Dharma,” he said.

Vinod Sharma and his family performed the marriage rituals, including the 'kanyadan' of Elona.

Even the foreign tourists staying in Dharamkot performed and enjoyed all the marriage rituals.

Sergei and Elona were attired in traditional Indian wedding dress and they took keen interest in the hymns being recited by Pandit Raman Sharma who with the help of a translator made the couple understand the meaning of every “mantra” being recited by him.