Argus News - Groom Walks to Wedding amid Road Blockade in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Feb 12: Wedding dates are planned months in advance, with families of the bride and groom eagerly awaiting a day of joy and celebration. But what happens when the groom cannot reach the wedding venue — not due to an accident or misfortune, but because of protesters blocking the way?

Such an unusual incident unfolded in Bhubaneswar, where a groom’s journey to his wedding was interrupted by demonstrators.

The capital city of Odisha witnessed an unusual and striking scene on Thursday as the nationwide 12-hour Bharat Bandh call brought life to a standstill across the state. With major roads deserted and vehicular movement suspended, even the capital city’s busiest junctions - Khandagiri, Acharya Vihar, and Jaydev Vihar - turned eerily silent.

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The bandh, called from 6 AM to 6 PM by over 10 trade unions, was in protest against the recently implemented four labour codes. Supported by several political parties, the strike disrupted daily life across the state. Trucks from outside Odisha were stopped on national highways, while local buses and shops remained closed in many areas.

In Bhubaneswar, workers’ organizations staged demonstrations on key roads, blocking traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters.

Among the most unusual incidents was that of a groom whose wedding car was halted by protesters near Jaydev Vihar overbridge. Unable to proceed by vehicle, he was forced to walk to the wedding venue, creating a rare and memorable sight for onlookers.

According to our sources at the spot, the demonstrators had an argument with the groom. “Don’t you realize today is Bharat Bandh? Other than emergency services, everything has been shut down. The announcement was made days ago. So why did you choose to come today?” argued one of the demonstrators.  

The demonstrator’s remark sparked anger, leading to a heated argument between the demonstrators and the groom. “It’s not as if the wedding date was fixed yesterday - it was decided months ago. And this is a wedding, not some casual party. We can’t just change the date overnight,” said the visibly frustrated groom.

In frustration, the groom walked to the wedding venue, creating a rare and memorable sight for onlookers.

Despite the widespread shutdown, essential services such as medical facilities, ambulance services, fire brigades, water supply, electricity, and government offices remained functional. The bandh’s impact was most visible in marketplaces and transport hubs, where normal activity came to a halt.