Statesman News Service MALDA, June 30: Perhaps it was raining and sunny at the same time somewhere, for two giant toads were married off in true traditional Hindu style, complete with a lavish celebration at Haridaspur village in Gazole by villagers today. The unusual wedding was a bid to appease the rain god and end the long dry spell. The prospective bride and groom were caught from the village pond by villagers, who did not ask the duo their opinion before marrying them off. The marriage ceremony followed all the Hindu traditions. The bride toad’s foster father, Mr Nirapada Sarkar, even fasted the entire day to maintain authenticity. Wedding songs were sung by the women of the village; they went to the village pond to take an auspicious dip as well. The “chhadnatala” was made following Hindu customs and turmeric paste was applied the happy couple. The bride ven wore vermilion. The father of the bride, Mr Sarkar requested the groom’s foster father, Mr Nityagopal Das, to treat his “daughter” well. Earlier, villagers collected money to meet the expense of the traditional Hindu wedding. Elderly villagers said marriage between two trees and toads was the practice in their village during times of drought. This would appease the rain god and bring showers. This year’s heat wave and receding water level speaks of another drought in the area. The happy toad couple are not the first to be married off in this way; in June last year, a similar marriage was organised at Khochakandar in Habibpur block of this district. Gazole block development officer, Mrs Susmita Bhttacharya, was informed about the wedding, but refused to comment.
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