MANGALURU:While in a recent royal wedding newlyweds departed in a horse-drawn carriage, Chethan Kumar and his coy bride Mamatha departed from their wedding hall in a JCB in outskirts of Puttur on Monday.
Chethan Kumar, an earthmover operator, owned by Chandrahas Alva was keen on marrying the girl of his dreams in the most unusual style without burning a hole in his pocket. “Chethan’s dream gained traction after being inspired by a video uploaded on a social media platform,’’ Nithin, also a JCB operator and a colleague of Chethan, said.
“Initially, Chethan’s idea to take the bride on a ride in an excavator was greeted with much skepticism from both sides,’’ informs Chandrahas Alva, owner of Shivakripa earthmover who is also Chethan’s employer. Chethan insisted on having his way and even obtained permission from Puttur rural police, in order to keep his parents and in-laws in good humour. After the tying of nuptial knot in Shivakripa auditorium in Kumbra, the moment finally arrived.
Chethan climbed into the driver’s cabin and made his newly married wife sit beside him. Chethan rode the earthmover upto two kilometres from Parapunja to Santyar as onlookers gawked at this unusual sight. “Chethan personally rode the earthmover on Mani-Mysuru highway to ensure nothing went wrong as crowds had lined up on the either sides of road,’’ Nithin said.
On the way back to his home, Nithin operated the earthmover as Chethan and his heavily blushing wife Mamatha made themselves comfortable in the bucket. Eventually, the wedding ended with Chethan realising his dream against all odds. Chandrahas Alva believes that the wedding drew good publicity for his earthmover, shamiyana business.