'Wooden bride' for 70-year-old bachelor's salvation

That marriage is an important institution in the Hindu society and is a religious duty is a well-known fact but 70-year old Durga Prasad, a resident of Bakarganj village in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district, about 250 kilometres from here, realised it quite late.

Prasad was a bachelor and had decided to remain so. But upon being told by the priests that he would not attain 'moksha' (salvation) if he died a bachelor and under pressure from the relatives, he changed his mind though with a rider.

According to the reports, he sought the advice of the priests on how to attain salvation without actually marrying someone.

The priests came up with a bizarre idea, which was reflective of the prevailing superstitions in the society.

Prasad was married to a piece of wood, which was long enough to be adorned with cloths and flowers, in accordance of the Hindu traditions amid chanting of mantras, the reports said.

The groom, accompanied by the 'baratis' (wedding guests) arrived at the venue and was welcomed by the ''wooden bride's family members'', who were, in reality, the friends of Prasad.

A friend of Prasad performed 'kanyadan' (a ritual during which the father of bride offers his daughter to the groom). A community feast was also organised at the venue for around one hundred guests, the reports said.