Girl marries dog to break spell

2008-02-19 16:13

New Delhi - A seven-year-old tribal girl in India's eastern state of Jharkhand on Tuesday married a stray dog as part of traditional rituals to ward off an "evil spell", witnesses said.

The wedding took place in a village near the state's industrial city of Jamshedpur and several relatives of the girl attended the function believing that the union would bode well for the family, a villager Sonu Pariyar said.

The dog was made to wear sunglasses and was brought to the venue under a decorated umbrella, while an estimated 150 guests danced to the beating of drums and drank home-made liquor.

The girl, who uses the name Pushpa, had to be married because she had a tooth rooted to her upper gum which is considered a bad omen by her tribe in south-eastern Jharkhand.

"Tribal elders said that she should marry the dog or face bad luck. According to their belief, families having a rough time should marry off their children to dogs to ward off evil spirits," Pariyar said.

"Nine such marriages have taken place since Sunday, the start of a local festival. Villagers believe that such marriages will bring in prosperity and good luck," Pariyar said.

Villagers said that marriage would not affect Pushpa's life as she would be free to marry again later and did not need to divorce the canine.

"It will not harm her future. She will be married to an eligible bachelor when she grows up," another local said.

Marriages between humans and other living beings are not uncommon in India and are organised to ward off evil spirits and spells.

Girls in remote tribal areas have been married to dogs and snakes in India's eastern states including Orissa and Jharkhand in recent years.

Sapa-dpa

- SAPA