While interacial couples are not new to society, a Hindu wedding between a African Bride and a Indian Groom is certainly an event that would spark excitement among some sections of society given that it is not something that is often seen.
This was the case with 25 year old Leya Latanya Persaud of Diamond East Bank Demerara, a mother of one who was raised in a Christian home to family members who are predominantly of African descent. She recently got married to her 29-year-old husband, Rameshwar Persaud who currently resides in the United States.
Mrs. Persaud told The News Desk that growing up, she never thought that one day she would get married dressed in a sari and performing all the rituals that are associated with a Hindu wedding.
According to Mrs. Persaud, it all started in 2021 when she along with her sister and cousins visited a popular club in Georgetown. She said while there, she was approached by Rameshwar who requested to have a dance with her but she refused. However, moments later her favorite song began playing in the club and she started to dance. Rameshwar told her that it was also his favorite song and so they began dancing together.
Contact numbers were exchanged and as she left the club with her friends, she began receiving text messages from Rameshwar. “From there we started going out and so on, taking trips. I don’t have a visa so I cannot travel to the states and back so we would take trips to Barbados and so on. He would come Guyana to visit as often as possible and stuff like that”
She said, initially her husband wanted to get married in Barbados but they finally decided on having the ceremony in Guyana with close family and friends. Mrs. Persaud explained that it was easy for her to accept her husband’s religion given the love she has for him.
The jovial Mrs. Persaud, said that she never foresee herself with an Indian guy but that changed when she met Rameshwar who she described as very loving, down to earth and treat her child as though she is his.
Her advice to other young Guyanese is to put aside racism and follow their hearts “I know a lot of people will have a lot to say but in this life, you can’t worry about what people say so go for what your mind is telling you and for what your hearts desire.”
