On her wedding day, May 5, Manasi Hingade Dhanave, a 25-year-old resident of Pashan in Pune, had a unique plan. Instead of heading straight to the marriage hall after getting ready, she chose to make a pit stop at a blood donation camp in Baner. Donating blood was not new to Dhanave, but doing so on her wedding day held special significance for her. She wanted to spread the message that donating blood is a simple yet impactful way to save lives, especially during the summer months when there’s a shortage due to fewer donors.
The blood donation drive, organized by NGO Vasundhara Abhiyan, was inaugurated by Dhanave herself. Despite the importance of the day, Dhanave’s husband, a policeman with the Pune police, and her in-laws couldn’t join her due to pre-wedding rituals. However, her parents and cousins stood by her side to support her noble cause.
Although there was a risk of delaying the wedding ceremony due to the detour to the blood donation camp, Dhanave was determined to carry out both tasks on the same day. After spending about an hour at the donation camp, she managed to reach the wedding venue on time, where guests eagerly awaited the bride and groom to begin the ceremony.