"There's freedom now, we can live our dreams." Adhila Nasarin and Fathima Noora made headlines earlier this year when a court in the southern Indian state of Kerala reunited the two women after they had been forcibly separated by their parents. The women had petitioned a court against the opposition they faced after they came out to their families. Last month, they made headlines again.
Allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Tuesday celebrated adorable pictures of Adhila Nasreen and Fathima Noora, the queer couple that broke out of the shackles if all social inhibitions and attained the freedom to live a life of their choice, which clearly suggested wedding bliss.
This time, the duo posed as brides for a wedding picture session under a canopy by the sea, where they exchanged rings and rose garlands wearing beautiful lehengas. Decked in silver jewellery and dressed in embellished brown and deep blue lehengas (long skirts), they beamed as they exchanged rings and rose garlands under a canopy by the seaside in Ernakulam district.
The cheerful moment comes after, both Nasarin and Noora filed a court petition against the opposition faced. Noora, 23, posted a picture on Facebook. The post read, "ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: TOGETHER FOREVER."
In a telephonic interview with BBC Nasarin said, "We just tried the photoshoot because we thought the idea was interesting." She added that they both aren't married yet, but took a part in such a photo shoot. She said that at some point they both liked to be.
Both are relying on one another and LGBTQ+ organisations like Vanaja Collective to help them get together because their families and communities are not supporting them. The support groups are giving advice to complete their studies and find a job.
India's Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex in 2018 after a decades-long legal battle by activists and LGBTQ+ groups. Over the years, awareness about the community has increased, but members still face stigma and a resistance to complete acceptance.