UP man turns daughter's divorce into a celebration of freedom. Video is viral
A Meerut family redefined divorce stigma by welcoming their daughter with drums, music and flowers after a long legal battle.
A father in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut chose celebration over sorrow when his daughter returned home after her divorce, a gesture that is now winning hearts online.
Videos circulating on social media show scenes of music, dancing, and a warm welcome, as family members gather with drums and flower garlands to welcome the woman. At the centre of it all is her father, a retired judge, who made a conscious decision to treat his daughter’s divorce not as a setback, but as a new beginning.
The woman, identified as Pratiksha, is a resident of Shastri Nagar in Meerut. She was married in 2018 to Major Gaurav Agnihotri, a resident of Shahjahanpur. The couple also has a son. However, over time, the marriage ran into trouble, with reports of harassment in her marital home and ongoing disputes pushing the relationship to the brink.
After a prolonged legal battle, the couple was officially granted a divorce on April 4. What followed, however, was anything but conventional.
As Pratiksha arrived home, her father ensured she was welcomed with full celebration. Drums were played, family members danced, and flowers were showered on her. In a touching gesture, he wore a white T-shirt printed with her photograph and the words, “I Love My Bitiya,” publicly expressing his pride and support.
Watch the video here:
In a society where a woman’s divorce is often seen as a source of shame or grief, the father’s actions stood out. He said his intention was to send a clear message, that daughters are equal to sons and deserve the same love, dignity, and support. “I cannot see my daughter unhappy. If she was unhappy in her six-year marriage and returned home distressed, I did not want her to feel any more pain,” he said.
The videos and images have since gone viral, with many praising the father’s progressive mindset. Several users noted that such support from families could go a long way in breaking harmful norms around divorce, dowry, and domestic abuse, and help women rebuild their lives with dignity.
(With inputs from Mohd. Usman Chaudhary)
A father in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut chose celebration over sorrow when his daughter returned home after her divorce, a gesture that is now winning hearts online.
Videos circulating on social media show scenes of music, dancing, and a warm welcome, as family members gather with drums and flower garlands to welcome the woman. At the centre of it all is her father, a retired judge, who made a conscious decision to treat his daughter’s divorce not as a setback, but as a new beginning.
The woman, identified as Pratiksha, is a resident of Shastri Nagar in Meerut. She was married in 2018 to Major Gaurav Agnihotri, a resident of Shahjahanpur. The couple also has a son. However, over time, the marriage ran into trouble, with reports of harassment in her marital home and ongoing disputes pushing the relationship to the brink.
After a prolonged legal battle, the couple was officially granted a divorce on April 4. What followed, however, was anything but conventional.
As Pratiksha arrived home, her father ensured she was welcomed with full celebration. Drums were played, family members danced, and flowers were showered on her. In a touching gesture, he wore a white T-shirt printed with her photograph and the words, “I Love My Bitiya,” publicly expressing his pride and support.
Watch the video here:
In a society where a woman’s divorce is often seen as a source of shame or grief, the father’s actions stood out. He said his intention was to send a clear message, that daughters are equal to sons and deserve the same love, dignity, and support. “I cannot see my daughter unhappy. If she was unhappy in her six-year marriage and returned home distressed, I did not want her to feel any more pain,” he said.
The videos and images have since gone viral, with many praising the father’s progressive mindset. Several users noted that such support from families could go a long way in breaking harmful norms around divorce, dowry, and domestic abuse, and help women rebuild their lives with dignity.
(With inputs from Mohd. Usman Chaudhary)
