Coimbatore: A marriage between two donkeys was held at Mettupalayam in a pompous manner, as people prayed seeking for rain.
Coimbatore: A marriage between two donkeys was held at Mettupalayam in a pompous manner, as people prayed seeking for rain.
The villagers who were suffering from a drought for over five years now decided to marry off two donkeys; an old custom followed in some parts of India seeking rain. For this strange worship, the villagers of Elakkepalayam posed as the bride side, and the villagers of Kovilpalayam posed as the groom's side.
The marriage ritual of the donkeys took place in a Subramaniyar Temple at Elakkepalayam. The bride donkey was draped in a saree and accessories while the groom donkey was dressed in the traditional dhoti. As a part of welcoming the groom's family, the donkey was taken in a procession followed by special worship in the temple. The "Thali" was tied to the donkeys on behalf of the elderly men of the village by the priest.
Almost everyone from the two villages took part in the marriage ritual that took place as grand as a real wedding seeking rain. One of the villagers cited that the marriage of the two donkeys had proved lucky for the villages in the year 1984 when the villagers were suffering from severe drought. This pleased the rain gods had emptied its clouds over our villages. The villagers truly believe that this marriage will help them this year too.
But as scientific development has shown, the villagers would do well to plant more trees and save more water than marrying the donkeys.