Tribal child ties nuptial knot with a pet dog in Orissa

Kendrapada, Orissa, Feb 13 (UNI) It was a real marriage between a 14-month-old child and a dog to ward off an "evil spirit and save the boy from possible attack from a tiger." The child tied the nuptial knot with a female dog at a ceremony held at Patapur village on Sunday in presence of hundreds of invitees. The marriage was solemnised under a neem tree.

The child, Ashirbad Gagarai, son of Sunaram Gagarai and Suryasikha, tied the nuptial knot with ''Samina'', the pet dog of Siddhi Tau and Saraswati Tau of the village, dominated by Santhal tribe.

The family members of Ashirbad promised to take care of the bride. The child had to be married to the dog as he had a tooth on his upper gum which according to the Santhals, is considered a bad omen.

And as per the Santhal custom to ward off the bad omen and save the child's life from the tiger's attack, the boy must marry a dog.

The villagers said Ashirbad's parents were more concerned when they noticed a tooth in the upper gum and decided to go for a quick marriage with the dog.

The tribals in the village maintained that the marriage would not hamper the child's future as he could marry again in later part of his life.

All the rituals and rites were performed like a real marriage and the owners of the dog provided two old bags, five broken earthen pots and some earthen stones as dowry.

A community feast was also arranged on the occassion attended by the neighbours and close relatives of both the bridegroom and the owners of the dog.

UNI