While Russia and Ukraine are entangled in a fierce fight, a Russian-born man and a Ukrainian woman urged the two countries to “make love, not war” on the occasion of their marriage in Dharamshala.
Alona Burmaka, a 28-year-old Ukrainian woman, and Sergey Novikov, a 37-year-old man born in Russia (now an Israeli citizen), registered their marriage in Dharamshala on Monday under the Special Marriage Act of India. However, they have already performed marriage rituals as per Hindu tradition a month ago.
Talking to the media after their marriage was registered, they gave the message: Make love, not war.
“We come from Israel and Ukraine. We met in Israel and have been living together for six years. About a year ago, we came to India and felt that this was a special place (Dharamshala) to get married by the Hindu tradition, and culture. This is not only a message for Russia and Ukraine, this is also a message for the Hindu people. Once, Russia and Ukraine were one nation, like brothers. We need to make love, not war. Violence is not good, it’s not about the people, this is just the governments who are fighting. It needs to stop,” said Sergey Novikov, the groom.
“I met Sergey in Israel and we have been together for almost six years. When we came to India, we decided to marry, to connect our souls.said Alona Burmaka, the bride.