The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Superstition leads to a unique wedding

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Monday, Mar 24, 2008
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Superstition leads to a unique wedding

One-year-old boy is married to a dog
It is believed that it will keep him free from diseases

Bhubaneswar:

Driven by superstition, the family of a one-year-old boy married him off to a dog to keep him free from diseases all his life in Orissa’s tribal-dominated Jagatsinghpur district.

The wedding was organised at Munda Sahi of Jagatsinghpur town, only 30 meters away from the district Collector’s residence.

Tribal belief

District Collector P.K. Meherda told PTI that the incident could be the outcome of the tribal belief.

The infant groom was identified as Sipu, son of Radha Mohan Singh and the six-month-old canine bride was named Moti. The dog was attired in a yellow saree, while the groom was sitting next to her.

A tribal priest performed the rituals in the presence cheering villagers.

Old custom

The boy’s father said he decided to marry off his son to a dog in the belief that this would ensure disease free life of him.

“This is not new in tribal society. We do it when the male infant gets his first tooth,” Singh said adding that he would look after both his son as well as his daughter-in-law.

Guests were invited for a feast after the wedding.

A visibly happy groom’s mother Gita Singh told reporters that she would feed her ‘bahu’ like a child.

“The female canine will ward off all evils from my son,” she said.

The canine bride was fed with bread and pieces of mutton while the boy was given a feeding bottle containing milk.

Swain also gave a radio set, a gold ring and other household articles as dowry to the groom. - PTI

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