No leave, rings on screen: Udupi bride engaged to Canada-based groom online

No leave, rings on screen: Udupi bride engaged to Canada-based groom online

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, December 17, 2025: In an age where work, meetings and even daily essentials have shifted online, personal milestones are also adapting to technology. In a heart-warming example of this shift, a young couple recently completed their engagement ceremony virtually, connecting two continents through a video call.

The groom, Suhas, hails from Chakrabhavi village in Magadi taluk of Bengaluru South district but is currently working in Canada. The bride, Megha, is a native of Udupi. Due to work commitments and the inability to secure leave, Suhas could not travel to India for the engagement. Rather than postponing the ceremony, both families decided to embrace technology and conduct the engagement online.

When Work Commitments Meet Wedding Traditions

Suhas is the son of Shridhar Murthy and Gauri, residents of Chakrabhavi village. Like many young professionals working abroad, his job responsibilities made it difficult to return home at short notice. With wedding preparations already underway and family elders keen on proceeding as planned, the families explored alternatives.

The solution was simple yet meaningful: a video call engagement that allowed both sides to participate despite the physical distance. What emerged was a ceremony that blended traditional customs with modern connectivity.

Two Locations, One Ceremony

The engagement ceremony was held at Saraswathi Bhavan in Udupi, where Megha sat dressed in traditional attire, surrounded by her family members and relatives. At the same time, Suhas joined the ceremony virtually from Canada, along with his family members present there.

The time difference added a unique layer to the event. While it was 12:00 PM in India, it was 12:00 AM in Canada. Despite the odd hour, Suhas and his family gathered to take part in the ceremony, underscoring the importance of the occasion.

Rings, Blessings and Rituals—All Online

Through the video call, the couple exchanged rings by holding them up to the camera, symbolically sealing their engagement. Family elders on both sides offered blessings, and traditional rituals such as Mangalarathi were performed at the Udupi venue. Sweets were distributed to mark the happy occasion, just as they would be in a conventional engagement ceremony.

Suhas’s family in Canada also celebrated simultaneously, placing the ring and offering prayers from their end. Though physically apart, the families remained emotionally connected throughout the ceremony.

A Familiar Yet Evolving Trend

Online ceremonies gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions forced families to rethink long-held traditions. While many expected the practice to fade once travel resumed, digital engagements and weddings are increasingly being adopted by Non-Resident Indians working abroad.

For families, these virtual ceremonies offer flexibility without compromising on rituals. For couples separated by geography, they provide a way to move forward with important milestones without long delays.

Family Reactions and What Lies Ahead

Family members described the engagement as a meaningful blend of tradition and modern technology. They said the ceremony proved that physical distance need not be a barrier to celebrating important life events, especially when families are willing to adapt.

The couple’s wedding has been scheduled for January 7 and 8. By then, Suhas is expected to return to India after securing leave from work. The engagement, though virtual, has set the stage for a traditional wedding celebration with both families present.

Technology Redefining Togetherness

This digital engagement stands as a reminder of how technology continues to reshape personal and social customs. From video calls replacing long journeys to screens bridging oceans, the ceremony highlights how relationships are finding new ways to stay connected in a globalised world.

For Suhas and Megha, the engagement was not just about adapting to circumstances, but about choosing connection over delay, proving that when intent and emotion are strong, even continents can feel closer.