A wedding celebration in Bihar's holy city of Bodh Gaya turned into a scene of violent confrontation, leading to the ceremony's cancellation and a subsequent legal battle. The unexpected trigger for the chaos was a reported shortage of the popular Bengali sweet, rasgulla.
The Sweet That Soured the Occasion
The incident occurred on 29 November at a hotel where the bride's family was staying. According to police reports, the wedding rituals had concluded peacefully. However, tensions flared when an argument erupted at the dessert counter over the sweets running out. CCTV footage from the venue, which later went viral on social media, captures the moment the disagreement escalated into a full-blown physical fight.
The video shows guests throwing punches and swinging red plastic chairs at each other. The groom's relatives, who had travelled from a nearby village, were involved in the altercation with the bride's family. The violence began just as the couple was heading towards the main hall, abruptly halting the wedding proceedings.
Aftermath: Cancellation and Legal Charges
The fight led to the immediate cancellation of the wedding. In a significant turn of events, the bride's family later filed a dowry case against the groom's side. Police have confirmed the registration of this case following the cancelled ceremony. Under India's Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, demanding dowry is a punishable offence that can lead to imprisonment.
Mahendra Prasad, the groom's father, acknowledged that the fight started due to the rasgulla shortage. He claimed his family was prepared to continue with the wedding but alleged the bride's family called it off and then filed a "false" dowry case. The groom's mother, Munni Devi, added further allegations, stating that in the confusion, jewellery she had brought as gifts was taken by the bride's relatives. She also claimed the groom's family had settled the hotel bills.
Social Media Dubs It 'Game of Thrones' Episode
The bizarre nature of the incident did not escape the notice of social media users, who reacted with a mix of humour and criticism. Many drew parallels to popular culture, with one user quipping, "This wasn't a wedding; it was an episode of Game of Thrones: Bodh Gaya Buffet Edition." Another referenced the series directly, posting, "A Dothraki wedding without at least three deaths is deemed a dull affair."
Other comments reflected dismay at the underlying issues. "People fighting and calling off weddings due to rasgulla. And, people with this level of emotional maturity are allowed to marry and vote??!? Insane!" wrote one user. Another speculated, "Bihar’s rasgulla isn’t even worth fighting for. All I can sense is there were already high tensions related to demands not met hence the fight." As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the brawl, but the dowry case remains under investigation.
