Dolls married in Mahoba to please rain god

KANPUR: People of Bharwara village in Mahoba district of Bundelkhand organised a grand wedding of dolls on Tuesday in the belief that it would appease the rain god and ensure good rain and crops. Replete with ‘baraat’ and chanting of mantras, the ceremony was followed by a grand feast. The villagers in the region have long believed that marriage of dolls pleases rain god and rains bounty.
The wedding ceremony was a grand affair with all customs and traditions being followed. “We selected parents of the bride and the bridegroom. On marriage day, the groom arrived in a procession and after a feast, the marriage customs were held,” said a local, Ram Sahai Rajput.
Maiyadeen, a local of Nibola Mohal, represented the bridegroom side while Shyam Bihari of Richa Tigaila village did the ‘kanyadan’ of the bride. The pair got married at the local temple where the village priest chanted traditional prayers. “We have been entrusted with the responsibility of acting as parents of the bridegroom since long,” Maiyadeen told TOI.
“The marriage between a pair of dolls is considered auspicious. Last season, our village had witnessed a major damage to life and crop. So this year, we specially organised wedding of dolls to pray to appease the rain god…we rely on him for a good harvest,” added Shyam Bihari.
Appropriate wedding songs were part of the revellery and priests were made to represent both the sides. “Every attempt was made to give the event a real flavour,” said Pandit Balram Shastri, who performed the marriage rituals from the bride’s side.
“People sang wedding songs as the priest solemnized the marriage to the chanting of ‘mantras’ by putting streaks of vermilion on the female doll's head,” said Aniket, another villager.
“Invitation cards were distributed across the village and nearby areas. We made arrangements for the ‘baraatis’ at Basic school premises in the village,” said Shyam Bihari.
“The ritual was organised to please the rain god, because we have been facing drought for the past several years. We hope the rain god will be pleased and shower us with rain and happiness,” he said further.