Bhubaneswar, Oct 20 (IANS) Pitambar Nayak of Guda village in Koraput district of Orissa is different from his neighbours. He used to attract curious glances as he decided to become the ‘wife’ of Shyam Majhi from nearby Bagharaguda village.
Two years down the line, few faces turn when Pitambar goes to fetch water from the nearby tubewell, wearing a sari, sporting bangles and with vermilion on the forehead.

Pitambar and Shyam are unaware of the continuing controversy over gay sex following the Delhi High Court’s judgement decriminalising it. They are happy as they are, especially since their neighbours do not make a fuss about the same-sex marriage.

Pitambar told IANS on phone: “I fell in love with Shyam after getting impressed by his flute playing skill.”

After a few months of dating, they decided to get married, which Pitambar says is a “divine arrangement rather than a human intervention”.

“One day the village goddess came in my dream and wished me to marry him. Later I told him about my dream and we decided to marry,” said Pitambar.

“The goddess wished me to don the wife’s role. I am happy being the wife of Shyam. I am doing every household chore as a wife would do. I am just honouring the wish of the goddess.”

Shyam, a Home Guard member, said: “Marriage is a bond between two hearts and it hardly matters whether one is male or female. It is always a perfect marriage if you stay happy and find solace in the company of someone.”

“When I broached the issue neither my family members nor society opposed it. I am happy with the marriage,” Shyam added.

Shyam’s mother Bhugura said: “If my son is happy marrying someone why should I oppose that?”

Last week, the couple celebrated their second marriage anniversary by going through the marriage rituals again,. They had done the same on their first anniversary.

“They are happy. So why should other villagers have any issue about it,” asked Benu Majhi, a resident of the village.