No leave, on screen: Karnataka bride gets engaged online to Canada-based groom viral news

In an era where work, meetings and even daily essentials have gone online, personal milestones are also adapting to technology. In a heartwarming example of this transformation, a young couple recently completed their engagement ceremony virtually, connecting two continents via a video call.

The groom, Suhas, hails from Chakrabhavi village in Magadi taluk of Bengaluru South district, but is currently working in Canada. The bride Megha is a native of Udupi. Due to work commitments and inability to secure leave, Suhas could not travel to India for the engagement. Instead of postponing the ceremony, both the families decided to embrace technology and hold the engagement online.

When work commitments conflict with wedding traditions

Suhas is the son of Shridhar Murthy and Gauri, residents of Chakrabhavi village. Like many young professionals working abroad, his job responsibilities made it difficult to return home at short notice. Since wedding preparations were already underway and the elders in the family were keen to proceed as planned, the families explored alternatives.

The solution was simple but meaningful: a video call interaction that allowed both parties to participate despite physical distance. What emerged was a celebration that blended traditional rituals with modern connectivity.

Two places, one function

The engagement ceremony was held at Saraswati Bhavan in Udupi, where Megha wore traditional attire and was surrounded by her family members and relatives. Meanwhile, Suhas attended the ceremony virtually from Canada along with his family members present there.

The time difference added a unique layer to the incident. While it was 12:00 noon in India, it was 12:00 midnight in Canada. Despite the odd timings, Suhas and his family gathered to attend the ceremony, underscoring the importance of the occasion.

Rings, blessings and rituals—all online

Via video call, the couple placed the rings on each other in front of the camera and symbolically sealed their engagement. Family elders from both sides gave blessings and traditional rituals like Mangalarathi were performed at the Udupi site. Sweets were distributed to mark the happy occasion, just as they would at a traditional engagement ceremony.

Suhas’s family in Canada also celebrated together, wore the ring and prayed on his behalf. Despite being physically separated, the families remained emotionally connected throughout the ceremony.

A familiar yet evolving trend

Online ceremonies gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions forced families to rethink long-standing traditions. While many expected the practice to die down once travel resumed, digital engagements and weddings are being increasingly adopted by NRIs working abroad.

For families, these virtual ceremonies provide flexibility without compromising rituals. For couples separated by geography, they provide a way to move forward with important milestones without any delay.

Family reactions and what’s next

Family members described the engagement as a meaningful blend of tradition and modern technology. He said the ceremony proved that physical distance should not be a barrier to celebrating life’s important events, especially when families are willing to adapt.

The couple’s wedding is scheduled for January 7 and 8. By then Suhas is expected to take leave from work and return to India. The engagement, though virtual, has set the stage for a traditional wedding ceremony with both families in attendance.

Technology is redefining togetherness

This digital connection is a reminder of how technology continues to reshape personal and social mores. From video calls replacing long journeys to screens connecting across oceans, the celebration highlights how relationships are finding new ways to stay connected in a globalized world.

For Suhas and Megha, engagement was not just about adapting to circumstances, but about choosing connection rather than delay, proving that when the intention and feeling is strong, even continents can feel closer.