In India,marriage has gone to the dogs

The crowd clapped vigorously and showered rose petals amid shouts of joy when Rosy was helped in garlanding Rocky in the Indian style of marriage. The applause was repeated when Rocky garlanded Rosy to the great amusement of the invitees.

However, both Rocky, the bridegroom, and Rosy, the bride, looked bewildered over whatever was happening around them. They would alternately eye each other and the curious crowd.

Rocky, a brown and white Golden Retriever, is the pet dog of the family of the Khannas, who live across the road. He was gifted as a pup by a friend and to quote the wife, "Rocky soon became a family member. One day, we realised Rocky had come of age and needed a mate. That is how we found Rosy, also a golden retriever, through a newly-established dog matrimonial agency." Dog marriages are very common in the West, now foraying into Mumbai and a few other mega cities. But for most Delhiites it was an exhilarating experience. And so when the Khannas splurged money "for the good of Rocky who is almost our third son," there was an air of conviction in what they said — and it showed in the lavish arrangements they had made. The crowd of neighbours and friends was keen to experience the marriage of four-legged species on the pattern in vogue for the two-legged ones.

Rocky was in his magnificent wedding best complete with a bow, a pair of sunglasses etc. Wearing the typical Indian turban (head gear) with dangling strands of flowers, Rocky was rocking.

The marriage procession he led to the bride's place, created in a corner of the big lawn, was memorable. The baratis (bridegroom's party) included lovely poodles, terriers, dachshunds, spaniels, shepherd and mighty Alsatians carried or escorted leashed by their ‘guardians'. A couple of stocky bulldogs with their grandfatherly looks dominated the scene with their august presence. The special attire they all wore for the special occasion made them the cynosure of all eyes. They often eyed one another and barked with full force but their cacophony got drowned in the loud music played by a brass band which remained in attendance throughout.

At the ‘bride's place', Rosy looked gorgeous, a fairy in her white bridal attire. For a day, she looked so pretty that no sensible dog could afford to ignore her. I could sense that Rosy was the envy of every ‘female' of her species. (I am refraining from using the commonly used expression on such a solemn occasion).

Unlike humans, who wait for this moment, lovely little Rosy appeared scared to see a cold-faced Rocky approaching her in a decorated open car amidst noisy fanfare. The bride had to be held back lest she ran away. On the other hand, Rocky posed no problem or threat to any ‘female' dog. He had been made to wear a concealed ‘dog harness' that checks a male dog from getting close to a ‘female'.

During the main ceremony when the pandit (priest) asked the bride and the groom to repeat the mandatory ‘vows', they dutifully responded with "bow wow". The gathering clapped vigorously when the priest announced that Rocky and Rosy were now married and declared them "dog" and "….."

There were gifts of all kinds for the newly-weds — dog shampoos, sweaters and knitted gloves for the winter, shoes, jackets, cardigans, accessories, chewable bone-shaped toys and plenty of dog food that could last for a year.

The ceremonies over, the guests moved over for dinner only to face a practical problem. One side was meant for dogs and the other one for their ‘guardians'. The Khannas had arranged the best of dog food for the special guests of Rocky and Rosy. Their human escorts were not so lucky. After all, it was a dog's day.

https://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/marriage-has-gone-to-the-dogs-1.842474