'Mungu' alifunga ndoa kwa siri msituni

Maharusi

'Baba' wa nyani maarufu, Raju, akiwa amembeba 'mwanawe'.

Mwanaume huyo, Ramesh Saini (38), hana mtoto, anamlea nyani huyo kama mwanawe,na alifurahi kumuozesha ili apate furaha kama ambayo angeipata kwa kumuozesha mwanawe wa kiume.

Nyani hao, Raju na mchumba wake Chinki walilazimika kufunga ndoa mafichoni katika msitu wa Rajasthan ili kukwepa vyombo vya dola kwa kuwa ni marufuku kuwafungisha ndoa wanyama hao.

Miezi miwili iliyopita, Ramesh alikutana na Mchungaji wa kanisa anayemmiliki wa Chinki.

Ramesh amesema, angewaandalia maharusi sherehe ya kuwakaribisha nyumbani.

Bwana harusi ni maarufu hasa kwa uvutaji sigara

The tale, set in the forests of north-western India, had all the ingredients of a Bollywood love story: emotion, celebration, star-crossed lovers and a nail-biting climax.

The only difference was that the lovers were monkeys, taking part in India's first simian wedding — with the whole unfolding drama a classic clash between age-old village belief and modern life.

Hindu belief includes worship of animals as avatars of the gods.

Monkeys have an especially significant role in Hindu mythology as they are worshipped as avatars of Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Rama in his fight against evil.

So when plans for the wedding of "Raju" and "Chinki" were laid in the small village of Talwas, deep in the forests of Rajasthan, villagers responded with excitement.

Raju, the "groom", was famous in Banetha village, about 55km from Talwas. His owner, Ramesh Saini, treated him like a son.

"I want to enjoy the feelings of a son's marriage through Raju's wedding," said Rajesh, a 38-year-old married but childless auto-rickshaw driver, who nursed Raju back to health after finding him unconscious three years ago.

He was overjoyed two months ago when he met Chinki's caretaker, a priest in a nearby village, who proposed that the two monkeys be married.

"We will welcome the bride in our house in Banetha after the wedding with all rituals," said an excited Ramesh.

Hundreds of invitations were sent out for the wedding, planned according to traditional Hindu customs including seven rounds of the sacred fire as the wedding vows are recited by a priest, a pre-wedding feast and a procession with Raju on a horse.

"It's an open invitation to all the villagers. I am expecting more than 2,000 people for the feast," Ramesh said as he stood with Raju near a huge cooking pot to supervise.

But no good love story is complete without a hiccup.

As news of the marriage spread, officials stepped into action. Since monkeys are protected in India, no-one can pet them, train them or marry them.

"It's illegal to marry a monkey. Anyone found doing that or attending the marriage ceremony will be arrested," said forest range officer Bhavar Singh Kaviya.

Tensions rose in both villages after officials issued their final warning.

The monkeys and their owners went into hiding. On the big day, more than 200 guards poured into Talwas, where they confronted hundreds of guests waiting to see the spectacle.

"I have come all the way just to watch God's marriage and now the police are telling me to go back and stay away from the temple," said Prem Jain, 72.

"They told me the monkeys have been captured. They can't capture God!"

But the monkey couple had been married in a secret ceremony in the forest. The villagers erupted with joy at the news.

Officials immediately set out to look for the pair and found Chinki tied to a tree, sporting the vermillion mark worn by married Hindu women on their foreheads.

The officials couldn't resist congratulating her and posing for pictures.

"She is like my daughter and I am doing the duties of a good father," said a smiling Kaviya, carrying the monkey to a jeep.

Both monkeys were captured and officials hoped to release in nearby forests, but Ramesh was confident of their eventual return.

"I know my son Raju, with his wife Chinki, will come back home," said Ramesh. "I will have a big reception for them."