Mohammad Farhan Israeli/Kota(Rajasthan)

This is a tale of abiding friendship; its protagonists are the quintessential best friends forever (BFF) that we only see in films.

Abdul Rauf Ansari and Vishwajit Chakraborty have been friends for four decades. As neighbours in the Masjid Gali of the station area of Kota, Rajasthan, the friends shared their joys and sorrows while raising their families and making a living in the city known for its coaching industry.

Now it’s time for their sons to embrace matrimony and the friends decided to do it together, literally.

The weddings of their sons - Yunus Pervez Ansari and Saurabh Chakraborty - will be held at the same venue! The unique exercise in harmony and friendship between people of two religions was kicked off with a common wedding invitation card sent to people and it raised many eyebrows.

The card was as offbeat as the proposed ceremonies of Yunus and Saurabh’s weddings!

The cover of the card has the names of Yunus Parvez Ansari and his to-be wife Farheen Ansari and Saurabh Chakraborty alias Rinku and his would-be wife Sreshtha Rai on it.

The weddings are scheduled for April 19, 2025.

The families have printed a single invitation card for the weddings; on one side it has details of the Nikaah ceremony and on the other, of "Subh Vivah" the Hindu ceremony.

Lo and behold the reception for the newly-weds is planned as a common party aptly called “Dawat-e-Khushi”

Not only have both Hindi and Urdu languages ​​been used in the card, but its design and expressions are also inclusive.

The symbols and traditions, and of both religions have been depicted with equal respect.

Abdul Rauf and Vishwajit Chakraborty also are partners in the property dealing business. Yes, you guessed it right – their houses are next to each other in the Janakpuri area.

Today when their children are turning a new chapter in their lives, both the families decided that this celebration will be a joint show.

Yet another interesting aspect of their inclusive weddings is the Ansaris are welcoming the guests of Chakarvatry and vice versa.

Vishwajeet and Madhu Chakraborty are welcoming the guests at Yunus' wedding, while Abdul Rauf and Ajijan Ansari are handling the responsibility of welcoming at Saurabh's wedding.

This small decision has a deep message of equality, intimacy, and social partnership which is intrinsic to India.

Yunus Parvez Ansari works in an IT company, while Saurabh Chakraborty runs his medicine distribution business. 

Both believe that this event will not only bring families together but also strengthen harmony among relatives and communities. 

Saurabh says, "When the wedding was planned, both the families decided to make it a joint event so that the happiness could be doubled."

The message of this event is clear - when hearts unite, the walls of religion collapse. This wedding is not of two families, it has become a celebration of inclusive India.

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“Dawat-e-Khushi' is not just a reception, but a celebration of communal harmony, friendship, and humanity,” said a member of Ansari’s extended family.