Manmad all keen on welcoming its Danish bahu

Marriages are made in heaven, aver Rahul Alinje from Manmad and Cicelia Peterson from Denmark. And the entire town of Manmad is readying itself to celebrate the occasion – when a son of its soil will tie the knot with a former football player from Denmark.

Says excited yet exhausted Rahul, a professor of Social entrepreneurship with Aarhus University and a yoga guru in Denmark, "We both wanted a quite family marriage but now the whole town seems to be a part of it." Rahul had met Cecilia at his yoga class where she was his student.

Born and having studied till 10th standard in Manmad, Rahul like many other teenagers had not found his direction and had failed in English in SSC. "It was teachers' guidance that changed my perspective. I realised that I had to study and went to the University of Pune to complete my post graduation in Education (Med)," he said.

While studying at the university, Rahul came to know of various scholarships for higher studies and applied for some in Europe. At that time he was also working at the Shri Swami Samarth College of Education and Research, at Gauripada in Kalyan. He had presented a research paper for his scholarship titled 'Teachers' education policy – a comparative study of teachers in India and London'. The Sweedish government selected Rahul for a scholarship, which took him to Denmark.

With an interest and education in yoga, Rahul also started taking classes in yoga at Aarhus. This is where he met Cecilia Peterson, the former football player for Denmark and now a teacher. "We found we had many commonalities as much as differences," states Rahul. Cecilia is somewhat aware of Indian culture as her father Del Paterson has spent some time in India for his film. "My understanding of the Danish culture was helped by Cecilia. She made me see things from a different perspective," said Rahul.

When two years ago they decided to spent the rest of their lives together, the acceptance of their families was important for them. "Cecilia's family had no problem in accepting me well as I was there in Denmark. To acquaint with my family, Cecilia came over to Manmad two years ago," states Rahul.

Cecilia is busy shopping for her wedding on December 20. Cecilia will come across as a Maharashtrian bride, wearing a saree and ornaments. "The marriage will be according to Buddhist traditions but with complete Maharashtrian flavor," said Rahul with an excited Cecilia by his side.