Bakri Swayamvar a hit in Tehri

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 11

A large number of people today attended ‘Bakri Swayamvar’ held at Pantwari village in Tehri district.

Goat princess Aaliya and Shraddha and Sheep princess Kangana tied nuptial knots. Garhwali singer Narendra Singh Negi and guests from abroad attended the ceremony. Baratis and hosts danced to the tunes of latest numbers and enjoyed food.

The ceremony started at 9 in the morning and continued till 4 in the evening.

It was an initiative of Green People, a socio-commercial organisation working with and for micro farmers in the Himalayas. Formal invitation cards, along with sweets, were sent to the guests. A pre-wedding ‘mangal snan’ ceremony was also organised.

Green People founder president Roopesh Kumar Rai said the mass goat marriage aimed at strengthening the gene pool of goats for better lactation.

Rai said sheep and goats were major part of the Himalayan livestock, which spend several months in harsh and inhospitable terrains.

Nick, who came from Germany, said he was extremely pleased to be part of the wedding.

The marriage ceremony proved to be a gala fair as 500 indigenous goats were brought to the venue. Nearly 1,500 goat farmers and more than 20 certified goats experts and scientists were present.

Green People has been working to facilitate reverse migration in Uttarakhand hills through its concept of agri-tourism social drive, “The Goat Villages”. Pantwari is the first goat village of Uttarakhand.