PATNA: A wedding in Bodh Gaya turned into something resembling a low-budget action film when a shortage of rasgullas sparked a full-blown clash between the bride and groom’s families. What should have been a sweet union quickly dissolved into a sugar-fuelled skirmish as guests traded punches, pushed one another about and even wielded red plastic chairs like medieval weapons. CCTV cameras captured the guests transforming the banquet area into a battleground, and by the end of it, the wedding itself lay in ruins. Police later confirmed that the bride’s family filed a dowry case after the rasgulla riots brought the ceremony to a halt.

The fracas took place on Nov 29 at a hotel in Bakraur, Bodh Gaya, but came to light on Wednesday evening when a video went viral. The marriage was to be between Pawan Kumar, son of Mahendra Prasad of Hathiyawan village, and Kavita Kumari, daughter of Suresh Prasad of Atri. Both sides had arrived with full fanfare, the groom’s procession marching in confidently, entirely unaware that dessert – of all things – would sabotage the celebration. The garland exchange took place peacefully, offering a brief illusion that the evening would go smoothly.Disaster struck when guests headed for dinner and discovered that the rasgullas had run out. For reasons known only to those present, the shortage of the syrupy sweet triggered instant rage. Chairs were smashed, plates and glasses took flight and within minutes both sides were engaged in a spirited battle that no wedding planner could ever prepare for. The wedding collapsed as swiftly as the chairs.Suresh Prasad, the bride’s father, said, “Wedding rituals were underway. Meanwhile, the groom’s side started demanding an additional Rs 2 lakh as dowry, which we opposed. After this, the groom’s side started beating us, in which several people from our side were injured. We have filed an FIR in the matter at Bodh Gaya police station.”The groom’s family, however, maintained that dowry had nothing to do with it. According to them, it was the vanishing rasgullas that unleashed the chaos. They insisted that almost all rituals had been completed and that they still wished to proceed with the marriage.“The dispute over the shortage of rasgullas escalated so much that the girl’s side broke off the wedding. They are alleging that additional dowry demands were being made, which is false. An FIR has also been filed at Bodh Gaya police station. We still want our son to marry the same girl, but the bride’s side is not ready,” said Mahendra Prasad, the groom’s father.The Bodh Gaya police said both parties are being questioned, and further investigation is underway.