Mangaluru: When society is opposing inter-religious marriages, a couple – Vikram Savji and Shabana belonging to two different religions — have sent a strong message by getting married at the State Home for Women in Kalaburagi on Thursday.

A resident of the State Home for Women since 2004, Shabana married Savji from Bidar district.

“I have no words to say how happy I am… it is like a dream come true,” said Ms. Shabana, who was found roaming about in Kalaburagi and admitted to the Bala Mandir at Yadgir when she was seven. She was transferred to the home for women here four years ago. Although Ms. Shabana remembers her father’s name [Rehmat], she cannot recall her past. Her entire childhood was spent in State homes. She has completed her first year PU. The bridegroom’s parents too said that they were happy about the marriage. “Though we hail from a Brahmin family, we have a broad outlook and don’t believe in caste or religion,” they added.

Mr. Savji has set up a micro-irrigation equipment business and earns around ₹25,000 per month.

Following proper verification and counselling, the couple got the nod to tie the knot. Mr. Savji, speaking to presspersons at the marriage venue, said that his family wholeheartedly supported his decision to marry a resident of the State Home for Women.

The State home was bubbling with activity since morning on Thursday. It was all spruced up with the staff, apart from the residents, dressed in their best for the marriage of their “daughter”.

Deputy Director for Women and Child Welfare Mallikarjun Reddy said that Ms. Shabana is the 18th from the home here to get married since 2005. Antecedents of bridegrooms are checked before the marriage is fixed. Normal health checks are conducted both on the groom as well as the bride. After the marriage, officials of the State home visit the girl once in three months during the first year of marriage; once in six months in the second year; and once in the third year. “We will follow up for the first seven years and file a report to the government about the status of the couple,” Mr. Reddy added.

Superintendent of the State Home Shilpa Hiremath took the bride’s mother’s place for the rituals.