Girl married to dog to ward off evil spirits

A 12-year-old girl was married off to a dog in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur city to ward off evil spirits, a tribal priest said.

A 12-year-old girl was married off to a dog in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur city to ward off evil spirits, a tribal priest said.

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Soni, a resident of Ulidih colony in Jamshedpur, around 140 km from in Ranchi, was wedded to a dog Sunday because she had developed additional teeth, which is considered a bad omen among tribals in the region.

"In a tribal society, if a girl develops additional teeth it is considered a bad omen not only for the girl, but also for her family members and society. To ward off the evil spirit, we get the girl married to a dog," said Naresh Manki, a tribal priest.

"The marriage is solemnised like a normal marriage and a feast is also organised for those who participate in the ceremony," he added.