Woman To Hold Ghost Marriage With Her Boyfriend Who Died In Accident

Another incident of ghost marriage

The families of a Malaysian couple who was recently killed in a car accident honoured their union by planning a 'ghost wedding', a Chinese tradition dating 3,000 years. According to a local newspaper China Press, 31-year-old Yang Jingshan and 32-year-old Li had been together for almost three years and were set to marry in June. However, on May 24, their car overturned on a road in Perak in northwestern Malaysia and neither survived.

According to reports, the couple's families decided to go ahead with the scheduled wedding to ensure they were united in the afterlife. They also created wedding photos for the pair, according to Sin Chew Daily. Jingshan was a referee with a sporting organisation while Li worked at a food processing factory.

What Is A Ghost Wedding?

In Chinese culture, the term “ghost marriage” usually refers to finding a partner for deceased individuals. The belief is that if people die without fulfilling their wishes, they will not find peace in the afterlife and may return to haunt the living. Thus, the couples who die before getting married are united with a ghost wedding.

There are two types of ghost weddings, according to the South China Morning Post-- One involves couples who die before engagement or after being engaged and the second involves single individuals who were longing for a partner. The latter is done with the help of a matchmaker who posthumously finds them another ghost partner.

The parents seek a suitable dead partner for their deceased offspring, inquiring about the other family’s background, occupation, and age and requesting photos for compatibility. Then a wedding is held, and the bodies are exhumed and buried together in a new grave. Historians believe that this tradition also relieves the emotional needs of bereaved relatives.

For example, in 2016, a man from Gansu province in northwest China murdered two women who were suffering from mental health conditions and sold their bodies for ghost marriages. He was sentenced to death in 2021. Such crimes can invite a penalty of 50,000 to 70,000 yuan (₹5 lakh - ₹6 lakh), according to The Beijing News.

Parallel Tradition In India

In a May 2024 advertisement placed in a prominent newspaper, a family said they were looking for a groom for their daughter. The catch? The bride has been dead for 30 years. The family believes that the unmarried status of their deceased daughter is the root cause of their problems and wants to arrange for a Pretha Maduve or ghost wedding. 

The woman that the family is seeking a ghost groom for had passed away when she was an infant. Lately, however, facing some problems within the family has prompted the family to feel that the unmarried status of their deceased daughter might be the cause. They put up an advertisement in a newspaper looking for a groom who also passed away 30 years ago so that they could arrange a marriage between the two souls. They had been specifically looking for a groom from the Kulal and Bangera gotra or caste, in accordance with family traditions.

"Seeking a boy for a girl from Kulal and Bangera gotra. The child died 30 years ago. (Reach out) In case there is a boy from the same caste and different Bari, who died 30 years ago."  Unfortunately for the family, they were unable to find a groom for their daughter despite 50 families reaching out. 

The Practice Of Ghost Marriage Or Pretha Maduve

Pretha Maduve is a culturally significant practice that could be found to be carried out in the region of Tulunadu, a region that lies between Kerala and Karnataka. According to research done into the Tuluva culture, deceased family members stay with their families even in the afterlife, having an active role in the fortunes and misfortunes of the living. In line with this belief, often food and offerings are given to spirits through practices like 'Vikunta Samaradane and 'Pinda Pradana'.

'Pretha Maduve' is an extension of these practices in which two departed souls are unified through the marriage ritual that is conducted by the family. This is often done to ensure the happiness and well-being of the dead, even in the afterlife. It is believed that, in a way, ensuring that the departed are not lonely or unhappy reflects upon the fortunes of the family.  

I'm attending a marriage today. You might ask why it deserves a tweet. Well, the groom is dead, actually. And the bride is dead, too. Like about 30 years ago.

And their marriage is today. For those who are not accustomed to the traditions of Dakshina Kannada, this might sound funny. But (contd)

— AnnyArun (@anny_arun) July 28, 2022

In 2022, one internet user tweeted about attending a ceremony of 'Pretha Maduve'. Their post reads, "I'm attending a marriage today. You might ask why this deserves a tweet. Well, the groom is dead. The bride is, too. Like about 30 years ago."