Penelope from Greece and Siddharth from India tied the knot during a religious gathering in Prayagraj
Prayagraj: During the holy gathering in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Penelope from Greece and Siddharth from India chose to be married, marking a unique blending of Indian and Greek cultural heritage during Maha Kumbh 2025.
Along with the bride’s mother and other family members, Swami Yatindranand Giri, Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara, performed the act of “kanyadaan” for Penelope.
Siddharth began by sharing his experience, saying that Prayagraj is now the finest location in the “whole universe” due to its divine nature and that they had chosen to execute the marriage in the “most authentic manner.”
“She is very unique, and we are so thankful to have each other as our spouses.We picked Prayagraj, Maha Kumbh, on this particular day (January 26) because we wanted to do it in the most genuine way possible, which would be straightforward yet heavenly. We are aware that right now, this is most likely the greatest location in the cosmos, not just in the nation or the planet, where all manifestations of divinity and pilgrimages may be found. You meet wonderful people. It is indeed a joy for the heart and spirit to meet Maharaj ji (Swami Yatindranand Giri) and get his blessings,” Siddharth told ANI.
In response to a question about Vedic marriage customs in Prayagraj, Siddharth said that “Sanatan Dharma” is a “ancient window to the world” and that marriage, a significant institution, must be carried out in a “Vedic” manner.
“When we consider marriage, we often forget that it is a sacred institution that teaches us that men and women are completers of one another and that neither would exist without the other. There’s nothing wrong with adhering to old customs. After all, we are among the oldest civilizations on the planet. The sole old gateway to the outside world is Sanatan Dharma. Given how crucial marriage is to a person’s life, it had to be performed; thus, we conducted it in the Vedic manner today,” he told the media report.
Penelope described her experience as “magical beyond words” as she spoke about the new chapter in her life and her acceptance of a different culture. She said that while she had never been to an Indian wedding, she had been the bride in one.
“I believe that today’s events were beyond description, and I only realized that we were feeling heavenly energy after looking at a few of the photos. Since I was the bride today and had never been to an Indian wedding before, everything was both new and familiar to me. According to Vedic texts, I got married in a more spiritual manner, and the ceremony was wonderful,” Penelope told the media report.
Penelope opted for an Indian wedding rather than a Greek one when Siddharth asked her. In her opinion, their experience was more “divine” and “spiritual” than that of many others who only use weddings as a chance to party and consume alcohol.
He really asked whether I would want to be married in Greece or India, and I’m delighted I said that I wanted to get married in India. Over the years, certain things have changed. For example, weddings used to be simply another chance to party and get wasted, but for us, they were more wonderful. “Seeing a different viewpoint, a spiritual approach, was really pleasant,” she said.
Speaking candidly about her path with “Sanatan Dharma,” Penelope said that she aimed to live a fulfilling life. The bride said that after being previously linked to Buddhism, she came to understand that “everything comes from ‘Sanatan Dharma.’.”
“I see it as a means of living a happy, purposeful life and escaping this cycle of reincarnation. This is what set me off personally because I was trying to find a way to deal with the grief of what had transpired in my life. When you put everything together, it was like a jigsaw that started to make sense. After years of practicing Buddhism, I realized that everything originates from Sanatan Dharma, so I now go directly to the source rather than relying on other people’s opinions,” the bride said.
She responded, “Of course, I wouldn’t miss that. I already have the opportunity; we have been here since the beginning and we are planning to stay until everything is done, so I am looking for that opportunity and I am very glad that I am here, and my mother too,” when asked if she would participate in the January 29 holy dip in the Sangam.
Swami Yatindranand Giri, Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara, who conducted the bride’s “Kanyadaan,” said that the pair has been practicing “Sanatan Dharma” for a few years, and Siddharth has been teaching yoga and promoting the philosophy everywhere.
“A fresh occurrence occurred at Maha Kumbh’s shivir today, and we conducted the ritual in accordance with Indian custom. One of my Greek students has been following our Sanatan customs for the last five years and is a Shiva devotee. Our devotee Siddharth has been to many nations to promote yoga and serve Sanatan, thus today, in accordance with custom, the ‘agni phere,’ or circling the fire, was performed,” the Swami told ANI.
Every twelve years, the Maha Kumbh is celebrated, and from January 13 to February 26, Prayagraj is anticipated to see a large number of people.
The sacred plunge at the Sangam, which is the meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and now-extinct Saraswati rivers, is said to atone for sins and provide moksha (freedom).
The event, which has its roots in Sanatan Dharma, represents a heavenly alignment that brings forth a favorable time for devotion and spiritual purification. Over 45 crore people are anticipated to attend the Mahakumbh Mela, which would be a historic event for India.
A sizable group of worshippers gathered at Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam to dip in the current Mahakumbh despite the freezing weather. Aside from this, officials are concentrating on getting ready for the January 29 Mauni Amavasya, which is expected to draw sizable numbers of devotees.
When individuals from many languages, cultures, and traditions gather at the Sangam for a holy plunge, visitors from all over the globe are often left in wonder.
