This superstitious marriage was no way different from regular marriage ceremonies. There was much fanfare as well as all rituals related to marriage ceremonies. The canine groom accompanied by human frolickers reached the marriage venue. The groom’s troupe danced to the beats of drums and music, crackers were burst, like that of a regular human marriage.
The minor girl, who is yet to know what a marriage means, tied the nuptial knots with the dog through real marriage rituals. This innocent girl had become victim of superstitious belief of her parents and relatives. At times she also enjoyed the fun of this superstitious marriage. Most of the time she tried to tolerate everything with blank expressions in her eyes. To silence her questions, all people around told her this marriage ceremony was for her future wellbeing.
In some parts of rural Odisha, people think babies born with a single teeth showing up from their upper gum bring bad luck to the family. To ward off the ‘bad omen’ these children are married off to dogs of opposite gender. No one is sure how this superstitious practice started. But it continues in rural areas.
According to child right activists, such superstitious act can bring in inferiority complex in the victim child. He or she is mocked at by their friends after the marriage ceremony with dog. The victim suffers mental agony silently.
