There are a hundreds of different kind of traditional practices followed in many interior parts of India. However, the bizarre among all is the traditional marriage of a girl with a stray dog.
While in most parts, girls are made to marry a tree to wade away evil, girls in remote areas of Jharkhand and Odisha border are made to marry a stray dog. It is believed the marriages are made to lift bad-luck curse.
It is believed that, marrying a man would bring devastation to her family. So, the girls are first made to marry a dog. This, they believe might change things for her dramatically, transferring the evil spirit to the animal instead of her.
Many weddings like this have taken place in our village. This is a custom that people in many regions thoroughly believe in.
“Apart from the fact that the groom is a dog, we followed all customs. We respect the dog as much as we would respect a normal groom,” said an elderly woman.
“We had to spend money on this wedding in the same way as we would in a normal wedding. But that is the only way we can get rid of her bad luck and ensure the benevolence of the village.”
“I will marry a man one day,” said the bride. “It is the dream of every girl to marry a prince charming. So I am also waiting for my prince,” she added.
PNN
