<p>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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the reports, he sought the advice of the priests on how to attain salvation without actually marrying someone.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The priests came up with a bizarre idea, which was reflective of the prevailing superstitions in the society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
<p>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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the reports, he sought the advice of the priests on how to attain salvation without actually marrying someone.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The priests came up with a bizarre idea, which was reflective of the prevailing superstitions in the society.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>