India has long been referred to as the land of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, a term that explains its strong culture of communal living. A wedding invitation that recently went viral online seemed to embody this ethos, albeit in a very quirky and controversial manner. The invitation quickly gained attention of netizens and caused mirth and bewilderment in equal measure, with one user having a laugh by substituting the usual Islamic greeting ‘Waleikum Salam’ with ‘Waleikum Pranam’.
Reportedly from Bhagalpur in Bihar, the card declares the Nikah of a couple namely Sadab and Shabnam on June 21, 2025. On first glance, the invitation appears usual, until you spot the photograph of Lord Ganesha printed in the top-left corner, an odd choice for a Muslim wedding card.
The card was originally shared by an Instagram meme account, and the card soon gained popularity for its unorthodox mix of religious symbols.
Is it Real?
Numerous social media users have wondered if the card is authentic. Putting a Hindu god on a Muslim wedding card is not common, even if it was intended to be a gesture of unity. Several anomalies have also created suspicion, the date given is June 21, 2025, a Sunday, when in fact June 21, 2025, is a Saturday. The mobile number given on the card contains 11 digits, while regular Indian phone numbers only carry 10.
Social Media Reactions
Even though there were questions regarding its genuineness, the invitation has gone viral, with more than 9,000 views and a flurry of witty and sarcastic comments. One user in a tongue-in-cheek manner had written, “Ganpati Bappa Inshallah Morya,” and another user jokingly said, “Tulsi Das Khan!”
Others were critical but also analytical, noting the discrepancies in the date and the phone number. One of them even commented that the number resembled ‘more like an SBI account number than a phone number’.
Whether genuine or not, the viral wedding invitation has precipitated a wave of analysis regarding religion, culture, and sense of humor in Indian society. Even if the invite is not real, the responses it has provoked provide a glimpse of the sort of ubiquitous cultural overlap and disorientation that characterizes India’s distinctive secular texture.