Fact Check: Viral image does not show former PM Rajiv Gandhi Nikah with Sonia Gandhi

Hyderabad: A rare image of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi has gone viral on social media for a long time, with users claiming that the duo tied the knot according to Islamic rituals (Nikah).

In the viral image, the duo can be seen in traditional Islamic attire. The image is claimed to be from the Nikah ceremony of Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Well, it is not the first time that people have questioned the religious practices of the duo and how they got married. The caption of the viral claim translates to English as 'Gandhi family is not Christian-Parsi, Rajiv Sonia had converted to Islam and performed Nikkah instead of Hindu marriage.

However, in another post, an X user claimed that the duo tied the knot in church as per Christian rituals.

Let's get the facts straight.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim false.

A related keyword search took us to a tweet by an X user who has shared the entire footage of Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi's marriage from 1968. The video shows the groom’s welcome with arti and garlands, Varmala's exchange, and other Hindu customs have been followed. The video clarifies that the duo got married as per Hindu rituals.

We found the same video along with the logo of the Associate Press YouTube channel named ‘British Movietone’. The video was uploaded on 21 Just 2015.

The description of the video reads, ‘Mrs. Indira Gandhi's son Rajiv marries Miss Sonia Maino (Italian). Various shots of the wedding ceremony - Mrs. Indria Gandhi and Mrs. Vijay Lakshmi Pandit - Ceremony and cutting the cake - Shots of the happy couple with Indian President Dr. Zakir Hussain.’

What’s the truth behind the viral image?

NewsMeter found that the viral image is apparently from a fancy-dress party that took place after Rajiv Gandhi's wedding.

According to a Government website Indian culture, carries a similar image as the viral one. The photograph shows Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Shri Sanjay Gandhi, and Mohammad Yunus in a fancy-dress party after Rajiv's wedding, New Delhi, February 1968.

Hence, through our search, we found that neither Islamic nor Christian, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi got married as per Hindu traditions and customs. The viral image is taken after the marriage.