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Hello and welcome am in southwestern Bangladesh in a 17th century temple

Hello and welcome to assignment here on the BBC World Service. I am Lippecaphelum and I am in southwestern Bangladesh in a 17th century temple complex surrounded by deep green water.

Sanjida, we're walking towards the Lutus pond. What happened there?

Pooja wanted a lotus. It was the season. I wanted to jump in and get it for her but she asked me not to because the pond was full of snakes and she was worried that I would get wet.

So I then asked a little boy and gave him 50 taka. He picked the flower and I gave it to

Puja. So long as I live I would never leave her desires unfulfilled.

This is Sanjeda, a Muslim woman from a remote Bangladeshi village at the mouth of a mighty river, Kotha.

She's a vivacious village girl in jeans and a white t-shirt with a baby face bobbed hair and an infectious

giggle. Two and a half years ago Sanjida and Puda a young Hindu girl came to

this temple to marry according to Brahma way, a Hindu reformist

tradition that goes back to the mid-19th century. They are the first gay couple in Bangladesh

to publicly declare their merit.

When I gave her the flower, she told me, I'm still young.

If I ever forget you or run away by mistake, please try to get me back even by using force.

I see there's a signboard saying this lotus pond belongs to God, so please don't pick flowers.

The signboard was not there when I gave Puja the flower,

but even if it was there, I would have turned it over and given her the lotus all the same.

You don't think that you might have offended the gods.

Lord Krishna of the Hindus is a loving God.

...