Band, baaja, baraat but no bride: Wedding in limbo as groom stuck at Attari-Wagah border

BARMER: Shaitan Singh from Rajasthan’s Barmer district, who got engaged to Kesar Kanwar from Pakistan’s Sindh province four years ago, saw his long-awaited wedding plans collapse after the Attari border closure, according to news agency PTI.
With his wedding outfit ready and a 'baraat' prepared to travel to Pakistan's Amarkot city for the ceremony on April 30, Singh set off from Barmer on Tuesday.
However, by the time the family reached the Attari border, authorities informed them that the crossing had been suspended. India had ordered an immediate shutdown of the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday as part of strong retaliatory measures following the Pahalgam terror attack.
“We waited so long for this day,” Singh said. After years of trying, Singh, his father, and his brother were finally granted visas on February 18, but the sudden closure dashed their hopes.
Surendra Singh, the groom’s cousin, said both families were left heartbroken. “Our relatives from Pakistan who had come here had to return. Terror attacks spoil everything — relations and movement at the border both get affected,” he said.
Despite the disruption, Singh, a resident of Indroi village, still holds on to hope. His visa is valid until May 12, giving a slim chance that the wedding could happen if the border reopens soon.
“Whatever the terrorists did was wrong. Our marriage is now stuck. But what can we do? It's a matter related to borders,” Singh added.
The cross-border marriage was arranged through family ties, a common tradition among the Sodha Rajput community, which has deep roots in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Many in the community prefer marrying within the group to preserve cultural traditions, often seeking matches across the border.
Singh, who works in the finance sector, is among many locals with family ties to Pakistan. For now, the groom and his family can only wait and hope for the situation to improve.
India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced several measures including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, halting visa services for Pakistani nationals, and shutting the Attari land transit post immediately.