Lesbian marriage stuns Vizag

Vizag: Two young lesbian lovers got married in a temple recently shocking their families and neighbours.

The lovers, K. Kumari, 19, and Varalakshmi, 18, tied the knot at the Lingala Tirugudu temple near Sabbavaram on October 16 and later exchanged Bibles in a local church to further cement their relationship.

They have also started living together in a separate house like any other married couple and are working in a nursery.

Kumari dons the role of the ‘husband,' wearing trousers and shirt while Varalakshmi, the demure one, wears the mangalsutra.

Though the shock is yet to wear off, the people of the small town of Sabbavaram are now slowly accepting their relationship.

Sources said that Kumari, a native of Anakapalle, came to the town to live with her married elder sister after she lost her parents.

She soon met Varalakshmi, who lived in the neighbourhood, and they became close friends.

The duo started working in a church together to earn money, but they were sacked after their colleagues complained about their ‘intimate' behaviour.

Undaunted, the couple rented a small house and started living there. However, Varalakshmi's mother was upset at her daughter's friendship and took her home. But the couple got married without much publicity and during Dasara, Kumari appeared with cropped hair. "She was wearing trousers and T-shirt like a man," said a neighbour. Another curious neighbour saw a photograph in a local studio in which Kumari and Varalakshmi were exchanging Bibles, which is how Christians in the rural belt get married.

They made further enquiries found that the young women (both belong to the goldsmith community) also got married according to Hindu rites in Lingala Tirugudu temple.

It was performed according to traditions and Kumari tied a mangalasutra on Varalakshmi's neck.

Interestingly, Varalakshmi's mother and another witness were present during the exchange of vows.

"We are not ashamed," said Kumari. "First we became good friends and later lovers. Now we live as husband and wife." Varalakshmi was earlier married to a man in Srikakulam but walked out of the marriage. She is not formally divorced. The owner of their rented house is not too bothered about their relationship. "As long as they pay the rent and keep quiet, it is ok with me." he said. Women in the neighbourhood have also more or less accepted their relationship. Of course, they have stopped taking baths with Kumari in the pond, which is fair enough.