Bhagalpur/Patna: In the heart of Bhagalpur, where tradition and culture often guide the sacred vows of marriage, one bride has chosen to expand the ritual—not just for herself, but for society at large.
At her upcoming wedding on May 10 in Deoghar, Jharkhand, Dr Snehakriti (Prachi), daughter of renowned paediatrician Dr Ajay Singh of Adampur, Bhagalpur, will take not seven, but eight vows. The eighth—boldly printed on her wedding card—does not speak of wealth, home, or fidelity. Instead, it calls for something both urgent and universal: “Aathva Vachan – Sadak Suraksha, Jeevan Raksha” (Eighth Vow – Road Safety, Life Safety).
This simple yet powerful addition to the wedding card has touched a nerve online, with the card going viral and winning hearts across social media platforms. At a time when wedding announcements often blur into one another, this one stands apart, carrying a public message of civic responsibility.
Dr Snehakriti explained the inspiration behind the idea. “Every day, lives are lost on our roads. Helmets and seat belts are ignored not because people don’t know better, but because they choose not to care—until tragedy strikes,” she said. “If the government can campaign for road safety, why can’t we, as citizens, make it part of our lives too?”
Her commitment goes beyond symbolism. Of the 1,000 invitation cards printed, each one carries this message of safety—an appeal not just to the guests, but to an entire community.
Her fiancé, Kumar Pragyan, an engineer from Tilkamanjhi, Bhagalpur, stands by her initiative, embracing this eighth vow as a shared responsibility in their life ahead.
Dr Ajay Singh, her father, who proudly supported the idea, said the decision stemmed from a desire to create meaning in a moment of celebration. “Road accidents don’t just claim lives, they shatter families. We read about it in papers, see it on TV, yet forget it by the next headline. We wanted to do something that would stay in people’s minds,” he said.
Indeed, the statistics are grim. India reports one of the highest numbers of road fatalities globally. Yet, the simple act of wearing a helmet or a seat belt—measures proven to save lives—are still frequently ignored.
By turning a wedding into a platform for awareness, Dr Snehakriti is offering something far more lasting than a celebration: a message with the potential to save lives. And perhaps, in a world overwhelmed by news of loss, it is this quiet, personal act of resolve that shines the brightest.
