INDIA: Little girls celebrate an age-old custom in a 'mock marriage' in hope for early marriage

Record ID: 1382351

  • Title: INDIA: Little girls celebrate an age-old custom in a 'mock marriage' in hope for early marriage
  • Date: 22nd October 2005
  • Summary: (BN11) MUMBAI, INDIA (OCTOBER 22, 2008) (ANI) POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING ON THE STREET PEOPLE THROWING STONES POLICE CHASING PROTESTERS POLICE PERSONNEL RUNNING AFTER THE PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING OUT FROM THEIR WINDOWS POLICE TAKING AWAY A PROTESTER (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) T.A. CHOVHAAN, ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, THANE, SAYING: "There have been sporadic an
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2005 01:10
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA1UBQ2OXPYZR5UMUOQJVBLUWPK
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: In an ancient ritual two eight-year-old girls tied the knot in a mock marriage in eastern India on Sunday (October 16).
    The so-called wedding was held in Navapada village, barely 20 kilometres from Orissa's capital city Bhubaneshwar.
    Part of an ancient custom of Kumari Purnima, literally meaning the festival for grooms, the annual ritual is held in the belief that it would speed up the real wedding fortune for rest of the girls of the village. In Navapada, fireworks and drumbeaters led the joyous marriage procession to eight-year-old 'bride' Lipi's hutment. Her friend and classmate and another eight-year-old girl, Debasmita, was the 'groom'. Village girls and elderly ladies chose the two, for their "enthusiasm" for the event.
    "Today is my wedding. I have been dressed as groom. I am very happy," Debasmita, the 'groom' said. Even today, girls are considered to be a liability by many parents, especially in rural India, who wish to get them married off at the earliest. The scourge of dowry and the feeling that sons remain the only support in old age, fuel the preferences for a male child and a consequent dislike for girls, that is manifest in practices such as female infanticide.
    The villagers, who had a lavish feast after the ceremony, said they believed the wedding would bring good fortune for girls not only in their village but also in neighbouring villages.
    "We believe that this will augur well for all the girls in the village. This would be able to arrange for the early marriage of girls," said Ritanjali, a villager. The autumn festival of Kumari Purnima is one of the most popular and important festivals of Orissa. According to Hindu mythology, Kumar or Kartikeya, the son of the Hindu God of destruction, Shiva, was born on this day. He was very handsome and also became the God of war. on this day, they worship the Sun and Moon for a husband like Kumar.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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