Lucknow, Aug 25 - When locals saw two men come to a temple in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district with garlands and flowers, they thought the two youngsters were there to pray. But then the two approached the temple priest with a strange request -- to get them married to each other.

The incident was reported from Baraut town in Baghpat district, some 400 km from Lucknow, where the two men aged 23 and 20 went to the temple Monday.

'Carrying garlands, flowers, and other items used in puja, the two men came to the temple. Initially, we thought the two had come for prayers,' Amit Saini, a local who was present at the time in the temple, told IANS over phone.

'After doing rounds of the temple, the two approached the temple priest, asking him to perform their wedding,' Saini added.

Taken aback by the proposal, the priest declined to perform their marriage, saying it would be against Hindu tradition.

'Both of them pleaded several times before the priest, who turned down their request.