In a village nestled within the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, where the tides shape both land and life, two young women recently took a bold step that blended love, tradition and defiance. Professional dancers Riya Sardar and Rakhi Naskar, both in their early 20s, exchanged vows at the Paler Chak temple in Jalaberia, Kultali block, on 4 November. Their wedding drew hundreds of curious and supportive villagers, who marked the occasion with ululations, conch shells and blessings.

In a country where same-sex marriage is yet to receive legal recognition and remains under judicial consideration, the ceremony stood out as a quiet act of love rather than overt protest. The event unfolded in a conservative corner of the Sundarbans, where such open expressions of same-sex relationships are r

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