A couple from India is set to wed in virtual reality in “metaverse” in an Indian-themed ceremony with the ghost of their deceased father.
Dinesh Sivakumar Padmavathi, 24, and his fiancée Janaganandhini Ramaswamy, 23, will hold the online ceremony on February 6 with thousands expected to attend the first wedding of its kind in the country.
In Tamil Nadu, guests would be unable to attend the ceremony due to lockdown.
Dinesh Sivakumar Padmavathi, 24, and his fiancée Janaganandhini Ramaswamy, 23, are set to hold a wedding in the metaverse
The couple will wear traditional Indian attire for their ceremony. However, the reception theme will be Hogwarts (pictured).
Padmavathi posted the news about his wedding on Twitter and Instagram to his followers. 2,000 people confirmed they were attending, while 5,000 said that they might attend.
According to him, The Times reported that he knew of Zoom couples getting married but wanted to do more and have his reception in the metaverse. It was my desire to bring the metaverse to Indians.
Padmavathi works at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras as a project assistant. To help his family understand it, he has created a YouTube video guide to Metaverse.
Among the guests will be Ramaswamy’s father who died last year.
Padmavathi explained that Padmavathi created the avatar of the host to greet all his guests. It’s going be an emotional moment for her.
Ramaswamy’s dad (pictured in metaverse) will be one of the guests. He died last year.
For the ceremony the couple will dress in traditional Indian clothing, but the reception will feature a Hogwarts theme.
If thousands of guests turn up to the virtual wedding, Padmavathi says the internet in his village of Sivalingapuram may struggle to cope.
He said he and his fiancée may have to ride a scooter to a cell tower to continue via phone.
India has criticised the novelty of the wedding saying that it is against Indian traditions.
Ranjeev Jain, managing director of Rashi Entertainment, said: ‘The idea is totally un-Indian. How do you celebrate your wedding? Without any real people or contact with them? While it may seem like a trend for a time, it will not last.