Dixon and Neela Chinsamy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last Sunday, sharing memories of love, family, and their passion for travel.
The party was hosted by the temple committee at the Shree Mariammen Temple in Mount Edgecombe.
Dixon, 76, said he met Neela, 69, when he was 25 years old.
“We were arranged to be married. We courted for a while and got married the next year. I was 26 and she was 20. I think Neela liked me more because I was part of a band called Santana Eastern, and I used to sing to her.
“We got married in a traditional Hindu wedding on December 15, 1974, at the Mount Edgecombe temple hall. There were about 500 guests, who were served vegetable breyani. I also sang at my wedding,” said Dixon.
He said the band released an album in the '80s called Anbe Thedi, which did well.
"But the band is no more because most of the members have passed away."
After their wedding, they lived at Dixon’s family home in Mount Edgecombe.
“My father worked for Tongaat Hulett and we lived there until Neela and I moved into a council house in Phoenix."
Dixon said he worked as a blood technician for the South African National Blood Service for 40 years and Neela was a general worker in quality control at Jockey underwear for a few years.
The couple have two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
“Our eldest son Samlan, also known as Dion, was born in 1975. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2019. He would have been 49 this year. Samlan was married and has two children. Our second son, Sugen, is 44 and has five children."
Dixon said he and Neela enjoyed travelling.
“We have been to India 22 times. India is like our second house. We love the food, especially the vegetable variety, and the chicken."
His advice to other couples: “You have to be honest and share everything in relationships. This is why Neela and I have not had any major problems in our relationship in all these years.”
Neela said that there was no real secret to their relationship lasting so long.
“In our day things were different when it came to a relationship. Now everything has changed but the most important thing is to show respect."
She has been serving at the Mount Edgecombe temple as a committee member for 40 years and Dixon is the vice chairperson of the committee.
“I enjoy spending most of my time there. I do the dressing of the mother. We do catering and odd jobs to help people. That is why they decided to throw an anniversary event for us."
She added that the event on Sunday was very nice, they shared supper and enjoyed their time together.