Kendrapada: Jajpur is among several areas in Odisha that is grappling with hot and humid conditions amid a sluggish monsoon.
So two men decided to perform a rare ritual to appease the rain gods.
Jatin Khatua (29) and Kalandi Nayak (27) got ‘married’ in a traditional rural wedding ceremony at Gamharia village, under Bandala gram panchayat in Korei block.
The ritual, locally known as ‘Andira Bibaha’, is a symbolic marriage between two men meant to break a prolonged dry spell and bring much-needed rain in the region.
The event was organised by villagers with great fanfare.
Jatin arrived in a well-decorated car, dre
ssed in traditional bridegroom’s attire, on Thursday evening. There was an enthusiastic procession, with DJ music playing loudly and the groom’s companions dancing through the village streets. Even the groom joined in the dancing.
The groom’s procession reached Siddheswari temple, where the ‘bride’ Kalandi was waiting, adorned in bridal attire.
Priests chanted Sanskrit shlokas as traditional Hindu rituals were performed to solemnise the marriage.
Laxman Khatua acted as the groom’s father, and Managobinda Nayak as the bride’s dad.
There was a community feast as well, organised near the temple.
Once the rituals were completed, the villagers bid the ‘bride’ farewell in traditional manner.
As per custom, the two men remained a ‘couple’ for a day, before going their separate ways.
Local sarpanch Bishnu Charan Rath, who coordinated the ceremony, said villagers decided to organise the marriage last week after monsoon rain didn’t arrive.
“We consulted a priest, who fixed June 18 as an auspicious date. Villagers split into groups from both ‘sides’ for the ceremony,” he informed.
“We hope this will bring rain and ease farmers’ distress,” said farmer Nalini Kanta Nayak, one of the villagers who participated in the event.