One of the heartening things about Indian elections is that many people consider voting to be an important duty. There have been several instances that saw even a bride or groom, or sometimes even both, take time to vote, hours before tying the knot .

Watch: Bedridden Indian man goes to vote in 'ICU ward' attached to tractor trolly

The high stakes election battle in Uttar Pradesh began on Thursday (February 10). The first phase of the polling is scheduled to take place in 58 assembly seats spread across 11 districts in the western part of the state.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2022: All you need to know about phase-I voting

Five Indian states are going to polls in February in what is seen as a bellwether elections. The elections are crucial for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. They are being watched keenly in India, almost like the midterm elections in the US. In the next two months, elections will also be held in Punjab & Uttarakhand as well as in Goa and the northeastern state of Manipur. VO: Elections would be held for 403 assembly seats in UP, 117 in Punjab, 70 in Uttarakhand, 60 in Manipur and 40 in Goa.

India's mammoth state elections: Why are they significant?