In a heartwarming celebration bridging two distinct cultures, prominent Scottish politician Martyn Day married his long-time partner Nidhin Chand in a traditional ceremony at the famed Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur district, Kerala. The ceremony fulfilled a decade-long wish cherished by the bride, who had always envisioned celebrating their union before Lord Guruvayurappan in her home state. Surrounded by close relatives, friends, and Nidhin’s twenty-two-year-old son Vedik Shankar, the couple celebrated their wedding vows with deep reverence for South Indian traditions. Visuals of the event, widely covered in national and international media including TheGeoAffairs , captured the fifty-five-year-old politician embracing Kerala customs while dressed in traditional festive attire alongside his bride, who wore an elegant kasavu saree.
The union in the temple town represents the culmination of a personal and professional journey that began nearly two decades ago in the United Kingdom. Nidhin Chand, a forty-nine-year-old native of Pampakuda near Piravom in Ernakulam district, moved to Britain in 2008 on a student visa after completing her undergraduate degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in India. She pursued higher education in the UK, earning a master's degree in Information Technology Management before enrolling in doctoral research. During her academic tenure, sweeping immigration policy reforms by the British government unexpectedly disrupted the status of thousands of international scholars, placing many students at risk of visa cancellations. Rather than conceding to the abrupt policy shifts, Nidhin emerged as a key student advocate, actively lobbying the UK Parliament and appearing before legislative committees to voice the challenges confronting Indian scholars.
It was during this parliamentary advocacy campaign that she crossed paths with Martyn Day, an experienced Scottish National Party leader who represented the Linlithgow and East Falkirk constituency in the House of Commons. Their initial interactions were strictly professional, centered around student welfare and immigration representations. Over time, their working rapport blossomed into a meaningful personal relationship. When Day proposed to Nidhin in May 2016, she was open about her personal journey as a mother to a twelve-year-old son from a previous marriage. Day embraced her family warmly, introducing them to his parents, who welcomed Nidhin into the family fold. Although the couple legally formalized their marriage in the UK that same year, Nidhin placed one special request upon accepting his proposal: that their marriage be blessed through a traditional Hindu ceremony in Guruvayur.
Fulfilling that wish required nearly a decade of patience due to unforeseen global and regional challenges. Multiple scheduled trips to India to conduct the rituals were repeatedly deferred due to natural disasters such as the devastating 2018 Kerala floods, followed by prolonged international travel bans during the pandemic. Despite the long wait, the couple remained steadfast in their commitment to complete the traditional rituals. The opportunity finally presented itself during Day’s fourth visit to Kerala, allowing them to gather their extended family and community members at the Pushpanjali Auditorium near the shrine to participate in traditional rituals, exchange floral garlands, and celebrate with a traditional feast.
The wedding has resonated widely across both Scotland and India, offering an inspiring narrative of cross-cultural harmony and mutual respect. Martyn Day brings a distinguished record of public service spanning local government and national legislatures. First elected to the West Lothian Council in 1999, he later served for nearly a decade as a Westminster Member of Parliament across three successive terms from 2015 onwards, and currently serves as a Member of the Scottish Parliament while chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group for India. Nidhin’s family carries a strong tradition of public engagement in Kerala as well, being the daughter of retired veterinary field officer K.N. Chandran and former Pampakuda grama panchayat member Rajamma.
The vibrant ceremonies at Guruvayur highlight how cultural traditions can foster deep bonds across international borders. By honoring the customs of his partner's heritage, Day’s wedding in the temple town has drawn warm praise from friends, political colleagues, and observers across social media. The celebrations at the historic shrine stand as a touching testament to endurance, family values, and the timeless beauty of shared cultural respect.