PHOTOS & VIDEO: Indian Girl Marries Dog To Chase Evil Spirits From Her

Mangli Munda is an 18-year-old Indian girl who married a stray dog as part of a tribal ritual designed to cast out an evil spirit.

18-year-old Mangli Munda and her groom, Sheru, at the wedding

The wedding, which was hastily put together by village elders, was organized with beliefs that Munda possessed ill-luck and marrying a man would destroy his family and her community.

The stray dog, named Sheru, was obviously baffled when the girl's father kidnapped and brought it to the wedding ceremony dressed like a groom, driven in a car and welcomed by the villagers.

Although the bride admitted to not being happy with the wedding but she said it was necessary to help change her fortunes and that of the community.

"I am marrying a dog because the village elders believe that my evil spell will be passed on to the dog," she said.

"After that is done, the man I will marry will have a long life,'" she added.

Her father, Sri Amnmunda, agreed to the event saying:

"The village elders told us that we should organise the wedding as soon as we can. We had to make sure that the evil spell is destroyed.

"And marrying a dog is the only way to get rid of the bad luck."

Surprisingly, this is not the first time a girl in their community had wedded a dog.

Amnmunda added: 

"Many weddings like this have taken place in our village and also the other neighbouring villages. This is a custom that we thoroughly believe in."

According to the customs of the village, the strange marriage will not affect Mangli's life, instead, she will be free to marry a man without divorcing the dog.

"My villagers say that many girls like me have followed this ritual and they have gotten rid of their evil spells and are living happy lives now,' said Mangli.

"I will also be free to marry a man of my dreams after after the evil spell is over."

Mangli's mother said, though the groom was a dog, they would follow customs and accord it the due respect a normal groom would have earned.

"Apart from the fact that the groom is a dog, we followed all customs. We respect the dog as much as we would respect a normal groom,' Mangli's mother, Seems Devi said.

"We had to spend money on this wedding in the same way as we would in a normal wedding. But that is the only way we can get rid of her bad luck and ensure the benevolence of the village," she added. 

After the wedding, Mangli said:

"I will marry a man one day. It is the dream of every girl to marry a prince charming. So I am also waiting for my prince."

          

(Watch embedded video above if you're on PC mode, mobile users click HERE to watch video.)

Meanwhile, the wedding ceremony was filled with entertainment as people danced to traditional drumming. About 70 relatives and villagers attended the event.

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