Marriage Ends After 22 Years Over Onion and Garlic Dispute Linked to Religious Beliefs
Marriage Ends After 22 Years Over Onion and Garlic Dispute Linked to Religious Beliefs
Tensions over religious dietary restrictions have brought a 22-year marriage in Gujarat to an end. The wife’s refusal to consume onion and garlic, in accordance with her Swaminarayan faith, gradually became a major source of conflict in the household and eventually led the couple to seek legal resolution.
The Gujarat High Court confirmed the family court’s decision to grant the divorce, as the wife chose not to challenge it further. Her dietary restrictions stem from her religious beliefs, which avoid certain ingredients for spiritual reasons.
The couple tied the knot in 2002. Initially, the husband’s mother prepared separate meals for the wife without onion and garlic, while the rest of the family consumed regular dishes. What started as an accommodation gradually escalated into a source of daily tension, with the court noting that “following the religion and consumption of onion and garlic was the trigger point of the differences between the parties.” Over time, both sides felt increasingly unheard, contributing to the breakdown of the marriage.
The dispute had legal overtones as well. The husband had earlier filed a complaint at the Mahila Police Station in Ahmedabad, accusing his wife of harassment and cruelty. By 2007, the wife had left the family home with their child due to ongoing disagreements. In 2013, the husband formally filed for divorce on grounds of cruelty and desertion. The family court granted the divorce in May 2024.
During the High Court proceedings, the woman highlighted that she had not received maintenance for 18 months despite a family court order. Her lawyer reported that she was owed ₹13.02 lakh but had only received ₹2.72 lakh as interim support, while the husband had deposited ₹4.27 lakh during the case.
Understanding the Swaminarayan Diet
The dietary practice followed by the wife is part of the Swaminarayan faith, which promotes a strict lacto-vegetarian lifestyle focused on sattvic foods. This diet emphasizes fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and dairy products while avoiding meat, fish, and eggs. Garlic and onions are generally avoided as they are considered disruptive to spiritual clarity. The philosophy revolves around ahimsa, advocating foods that maintain a calm and pure mind.
Other permitted foods include ghee, nuts, seeds, and natural sweeteners. Alcohol, stimulants, and heavy or fried foods are strictly prohibited. Meals are typically prepared with devotion, cleanliness, and moderation, with many followers offering their food to God before consumption.
Legal Proceedings and Resolution
Both parties escalated the matter to the Gujarat High Court. The husband questioned the maintenance order, while the wife sought enforcement of her maintenance and also raised concerns about the divorce. Her lawyer emphasized that her religiously guided dietary choices were unfairly blamed for conflicts, while the husband’s counsel stated that he and his mother had gone out of their way to prepare meals without onion and garlic for her.
The husband told the court, “The consumption of onion and garlic was the trigger point of the differences between the parties,” adding that he had approached the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority and filed a police complaint citing her “rigidity” and harassment.
Ultimately, the wife conveyed to the court that she had no objection to the dissolution of the marriage. The High Court observed, “In view of the above statement, the incidental submission as regards the non-formulation of the issue would not survive. Therefore, this court need not delve further into the issue of divorce.”
Regarding maintenance, the woman informed the court that the payments were pending. The husband agreed to deposit the remaining amount in instalments, resolving a dispute that began over a seemingly simple kitchen disagreement but had far-reaching consequences for the family.
