Rajasthan villagers organise bovine 'marriage'

Jaipur, April 15 (IANS) In a rare 'marriage', a cow tied the knot with a bull with pomp and show in Rajasthan Saturday night. The event marked the culmination of festivities which started with an engagement ceremony and distribution of invites for the bovine alliance.

The 'marriage' function took place in Katkar village on the border of Sawaimadhopur district and Karuli district, some 200 km from state capital Jaipur.

The bull christened Vrishabh from Medi village 'wedded' cow Parvati from Katkar village amid ceremonies and rituals akin to human's tradition Hindu marraige. Both the animals are jointly owned by residents of the two villages.

"We had made all the preparations. Marriage invitations had been sent to hundreds of people. The priest had announced the wedding date in the engagement ceremony organised earlier," Radharam Meena, a resident of Medi village, told IANS.

"About 500 people from half a dozen nearby villages and local politician participated in the event," Meena said.

Another villager Mohan Meena told IANS that Vrishabh was made to wear jewellery and other fashion accessories to spruce up his looks.

"Then a barat (wedding procession) from Vrishabh's village went to Katkar village. No motorised transportation was used. The barat was welcomed by the people from Parvati's village," he said.

What then followed were the usual trappings of a Hindu wedding, including seven rounds of the holy fire and the marriage 'vows' also knows nas the 'saptapadi'.

Parvati was then sent off to Medi village with the Vrishabh. "Some villagers' eyes welle up while bidding adieu to Parvati. As per the tradition, she would have to live with Vrishabh," said Mohan Meena.

Villagers said that the wedding of a cow and a bull is considered auspicious and is traditionally aimed at refinement in cattles' breed.