A man in Uttar Pradesh’s Basti has sparked widespread attention after completing a 9-km Dandvat Yatra, not to save his marriage, but to celebrate getting out of it. The bizarre vow, made during a period of marital conflict, has now gone viral.

Yogesh, a young man from the Sonha police station area, has become the subject of intense local discussion after undertaking a 9-kilometre ‘dandavat’ (full-body prostration) journey, not to seek blessings for his marriage, but to mark its end.

Married just two years ago, Yogesh’s relationship reportedly began on a troubled note. What started as occasional disagreements soon spiralled into frequent conflicts, taking a toll on his mental well-being. As tensions escalated, the marriage reached a breaking point, leaving Yogesh deeply distressed. In search of relief, he turned to faith.

At the revered Badwa Mata temple in Bhanpur, Yogesh made an unusual vow: if he were freed from the marriage, he would return to the temple performing a dandavat journey all the way from his village. After his legal separation from his wife came through, Yogesh decided to honour his promise.

Early one morning, without food or water, he began the arduous 9-kilometre journey, moving forward by repeatedly lying flat on the ground. His parents and several villagers accompanied him, chanting devotional slogans and offering support along the way. By the time he reached the temple around 6 PM, his body bore the marks of the journey, bleeding knees, exhaustion, and visible strain.

Yet, beyond the physical pain, Yogesh appeared calm. After offering prayers, he expressed gratitude, his face reflecting a sense of emotional release.

The incident has sparked conversations far beyond the village. In a society where rituals are often performed for the longevity of relationships, Yogesh’s act raises uncomfortable questions about the pressures within modern marriages and whether, for some, faith becomes a final refuge when relationships turn into emotional burdens.

Source: India Today