In Strange Custom, Odisha Toddler Wed to Puppy to Ward Off Evil
The 8-month-old girl was ‘married’ to a puppy, after which the hapless pup was left to wander back to his family.
Video Editor: Vishal Kumar
In a bizzare village ceremony in Odisha, a tribal family ‘married’ their daughter to a puppy because the locals believed this would ward off evil.
While the incident shocked many, the marriage was a normal event in the Odisha village. This traditional custom called 'Seta Bapala' or 'marriage to dogs’ is a common superstition that the families happily follow.
The eight-month-old baby girl Bhabani Munda and the pup were married in a traditional ceremony with a priest presiding over the event. The villagers even broke into a traditional dance, followed by a lavish feast.
They chose two potential groom-pups, who were decked up and brought in a procession, before one of them was made to wed the little girl.
After the wedding, the ‘bride’ was taken back by her parents, while the puppy was left on the streets to wander back to his family.
Bhabani's parents Basanti and Avimanyu Munda, who live in Dhenkanal district, had feared that she would lose her health after she began teething from the top instead of the lower row, which is seen as a bad omen in the village.
Munda, a large tribal group in eastern India, believe that performing 'Seta Bapala' transfers bad luck to the animal spouse of their babies, instead of to their real spouse later on in life.
While many community leaders condemn the practise as superstition, 'Seta Bapala' remains popular. It has been estimated that nearly 20 such weddings have taken place over the last six months.
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