Dharwad: Hundreds of villagers gathered at Padagatti Temple in Amminabhavi on Saturday to witness an unusual yet deeply symbolic event—a traditional Vedic wedding between two donkeys—as farmers prayed for timely monsoon rains and a successful agricultural season.The ceremony reached its climax during the auspicious Abhijit Muhurta, when Vedic priests solemnised the marriage of groom Megharaj and bride Vasundhara by chanting the sacred “Mangalyam Tantunanena…” mantra. As the mangalsutra was tied, villagers showered the couple with akshata (sacred rice) and chanted “Har Har Mahadev,” expressing their hope for rains to revive parched fields.With no families to represent the bride or groom, villagers themselves performed every ceremonial role, turning the event into a collective expression of faith rooted in agrarian tradition.The rituals began with prayers to Lord Ganesha, followed by the worship of the Panchakalashas and the Ganga Kalasha. Farmers then took a collective sankalpa, seeking abundant rainfall and a prosperous harvest.Before the wedding, the donkeys were anointed with turmeric and bathed in sacred water. Traditional rites—including basinga, kankana dharana, gudajiraka sinchana, kanyadaan, mangalya dharana and akshata—were performed under the guidance of Vedic scholar Somalinga Shastri Guddadamath and astrologer SM Prashant Rajguru.The newlyweds were later taken in a festive procession through the village amid folk music and traditional drum beats, followed by a community feast. An engagement ceremony had also been held on Friday evening. With sowing largely complete but rainfall remaining scarce, farmers revived this age-old custom in the hope of invoking nature’s blessings. The ceremony underscored how traditional beliefs continue to inspire hope and foster social unity, even in an age shaped by science and digital technology.
