Goat weddings draw crowd

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 24

It was a unique wedding. Three brides had to choose their life partners from 10 grooms at a ‘swayamvar’. The venue bustled with people who wanted to have a glimpse of the couples to be.

It was the ‘swayamvar’ of goats in Pantwadi village that falls in Nainbagh tehsil of Tehri Garhwal district wherein the brides were Katrina, Deepika and Priyanka. Around 10 male goats from Nigyana, Channan Gaon and Binao were brought to Pantwadi to charm the three female goats and persuade them to tie the nuptial knots on the auspicious day of Maha Shivratri. However, Tukun from Bhandasari village, Chaitu from Nigyana village and Baisakhu from Chadan Gaon were the lucky ones to make it, much to the delight of villagers.

The brides (female goats) dressed up in traditional attires were taken to male goats. Each bride was left in the company of five male goats thrice in a ring and the one, in whom she showed interest, was declared her husband.

The marriages were solemnised by a priest who performed rituals in accordance with the Hindu marriage tradition. The organisers performed Kanya Dan and gave away cash prizes to owners of the male goats to motivate them towards improving the quality of goat breeds in their region.

Some villagers were seen making merry by consuming locally-produced hooch called Gani Sur.

Sukreet Singh, a tourist from Punjab, said it was a unique experience for his family to witness the marriage of goats. “Kids enjoyed goat milk and cheese, and my wife bought a sweater,” he said.

Green People, the NGO that organised the event, said the motive was to to relive the ancient culture of ‘swayamvar’ and revive the age-old tradition of rearing goats for livelihood.

Subash Ramola, co-founder of famous Goat village concept, said around 500 goats were expected but many could not turn up due to various reasons. However, the event has created right kind of buzz in the region and next year it would attract more visitors. The event was like a ‘swayamavar’— a practice of choosing a husband from among a list of suitors. He said that the event would be much grander next year with tourists having a place to stay.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uttarakhand Sheep and Wool Development Board, Dr Avinash Anand appreciated the objectives behind the ‘swayamvar’. He said the department set up several stalls to inform people about various schemes.

Animal husbandary expert SC Gautam from Mathura said such events should become a regular feature in the region to promote sheep rearing. He said the government should formulate a policy to motivate people towards goat and sheep rearing and provide fodder centers using local knowledge so that the villagers can be self-employed. The event was jointly organised by the Green people, Animal Husbandry Department and Uttarakhand Sheep and Wool Development Board.