Udupi: Marital Bliss for Amphibians—Rain Gods to Smile on District? 
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/CN)
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri

Udupi, Jul 15: It was a wedding, with a bride and groom—performed true to Hindu tradition. However, the couple that joined in holy matrimony did not belong to the homo sapiens species. They were a pair of jumbo frogs!

For the first time in the history of this district, such a wedding was held under the leadership of Nithyanand Olakad, chief secretary of the district Nagarika Samiti, on Tuesday, July 15.

The frogs were taken in a decorated push cart from Diana Circle to the clock tower, where the wedding took place. It was held as a means of appeasing the rain gods who seem to have deserted the coastal district over the past few weeks. 

There has been an ominous lull in the monsoon after incessant rains that initially lashed the district for almost 10 days. Olakad is known in the district as the Vatal Nagaraj of Udupi, who is usually involved in unique protests for worthy causes. Recently, he had organized a coconut tree climbing competition for women.

Interestingly, all through the wedding celebrations heavy clouds engulfed the skies seeming to herald some much awaited rainfall. Thousands of viewers on the busy Kavi Muddana road watched this rare wedding of frogs in awe.