A family of Jiaganj in Murshidabad on Wednesday arranged a ‘fresh marriage’ of the eldest person in the family to celebrate him turning one hundred years old. To witness the symbolic marriage of a very old couple, hundreds of people gathered in the house of Biswanath Sarkar, a resident of Beniapukur village.

Around 70 years ago the marriage of Biswanath, once a farmer by profession, took place with Surodhwani Sarkar. The family members of Biswanath claim that very recently he has completed 100 years and Surodhwani is now in her 90s.

The Sarkar couple has six sons and three daughters, 23 grandsons and granddaughters. The Sarkar couple’s grandsons have 10 children. The children of Sarkar couple stay in different parts of the state and in Delhi after their marriages. But recently the children of Sarkar couple planned to tie a fresh knot by their father Biswanath with their mother Surodhwani after the former completed 100 years.

Pintu Mondal, a grandson of Sarkar couple said, “We have our ancestral home at Bamunia village. My grandmother went to the village to marry my grandfather a few days ago. On Wednesday morning my grandfather went to the village in a horse cart along with his grandsons and granddaughters for the marriage.”

As soon Biswanath reached the village he was welcomed by bursting fire crackers. The granddaughters of Surodhwani took the responsibility of the makeup of the bride. The couple was garlanded with currency notes. Wearing a new shari the bride, Surodhwani, waited there for her ‘old’ groom Biswanath. After an exchange of look the old couple again returned to Beniapukur village in the same horse cart.

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Aarati Mondal, the elder daughter of Sarkars said, “Only a few fortunate children get the chance to see their parents marry again to celebrate father turning 100 years. I am feeling very happy today watching a fresh marriage of my parents.”

Geeta Sarkar, a daughter-in-law of Sarkar said, “A few months ago I got the idea from Facebook. Thereafter I shared the idea with other family members. Everyone supported me in arranging this unique marriage.”

The bridegroom, Biswanath said, “I married Surodhwani in the Bengali year 1359 in Falgun month. After almost 70 years I am marrying her again in the presence of my children and grandchildren. Today my family members have arranged grand dinner for the villagers.”