Look, I love animals. I mean, I really love animals. I grew up with a dog, I have cats, and I walk some of the dogs in my neighborhood to break up my writing day. But I draw a line at this: Indian woman marries cobra.
Now, all phallic jokes aside, let’s take a look at this. This woman was sick. She started feeding the snake and got cured. Perhaps this was psychological, or coincidental, or perhaps it was indeed a religious sign. But basic questions are being ignored here.
For one, how did the snake propose? I’m assuming this Bimbala Das is a nice Indian girl who didn’t spring the question on it/him? Also:
Priests chanted mantras to seal the union, but the snake failed to come out of a nearby ant hill where it lives,
Then how do you know it said yes? What if it has a little cobra wife and babies already? You mean the incredible racket of an Indian wedding isn’t conducive to luring snakes into matrimony?
Second, what are the snake’s rights? Does he know own her property? Did he provide some kind of dowry? And, perhaps most important from the cobra’s point of view–does the snake have any conjugal rights? I mean, I’m just asking here, it’s a logical question.
“I am happy,” said her mother Dyuti Bhoi, who has two other daughters and two sons to marry off.
Eeeeeeeenteresting. Perhaps a trip to the zoo is in order? I’ve heard penguins mate for life….
a traditional Hindu wedding celebrated by 2,000 guests in India’s Orissa state
This is the most shocking of all. A cobra can get 2000 guests to come to its wedding in the heat of India in June and I can’t get half my guests to come up past 14th street on a weekday.
What about Nagina???
(With respek to the greatest doctor boy of them all, and to Mr. Lam himself, we offer a brief interlude for our viewing audiences…)
I am SpLam. SpLam I am. I am a fan of Moorish Nam. I would not mock him here or there, I would not mock him anywhere!
Could I? Would I? In the Desh? Could I? Would I? With Ganesh? Could I? Would I? In a lungi? Could I? Would I? On my kundi?
Not in the Desh! Not with Ganesh! Not in a lungi! Not on my kundi! Not in my house! Not with your spouse! (Vell, maaaaybe…)
Not on a train! Not with Hussain! My ISP? You let me be! I donÂ’t like those who donÂ’t like ham! I do not like them, SpLam I am!
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming…
Hey Jai.
One and same. And yes, I know that you are you …! I’m rarely here; have a rather low tolerance level for ‘desi’ blogs as such and PP is pretty much it.
Who said we’re desi? You haven’t met me in flesh yet have you Mirax? I’m just pretending so I can attract some brown female blood. So far I’ve got Kismet hardy. It’s not going well 🙁
Anuja: I agree with you about the Yahoo article. Mine was not supposed to be ethnocentric, just funny. I have been aware of religious ceremonies that unite humans with animals or objects (my mother noted that a common ceremony was to a banana tree, which rather than just being a phallic symbol, is one of everlasting life and sustenance). However, I still find marriage to animals ridiculous–outside of any ethnocentric bias on the part of the AP, and it involves a lower caste woman or some rich white socialite.
Why? Kumar N put it perfectly:
I feel pretty comfortable in saying that marriage is a legal and societal construct intended for humans only. Otherwise, you’re opening a slippery slope of legal issues. If the cobra dies, can she be compensated? If it attacks someone, is she responsible? Does it have the rights of a pet (property) or human? Can Bimbala marry a human (in many instances, yes, but this article makes no mention of it)? Is there a law in the Indian government that allows this, or is it an exception made on a case-by-case basis? Is the marriage legal outside of India? (almost certainly not)? What about caste?
And yes: if she decides to have some sort of conjugal relations with the snake–is that now acceptable under the law?
Like I said, I love animals. I could even be talked into a ritual ceremony bonding me to my pets. But the Indian government calling this “marriage” without looking into these questions (especially the issue of bestiality marriage to an animal opens up) is just a misnomer.
And I still can’t believe 2000 people showed up. All from the bride’s side.
….sorry, and I should have said “whether it involves a lower caste woman or a rich Park Avenue socialite.
and I don’t think that marriage is exclusively for a man and woman, which is why I said “humans.” I should, however, have said “adult humans.”
Msichana,
thanks for the links..
Kismet’s cool.He’d be banned within seconds here at SM. You should be so lucky,Sunny boy, with that mugshot you’ve pasted on CiF. The grief you got.
Mirax,
Nice to see you here 😉
I tend to post here comparatively more frequently than I do on PP — I’m also a lot less serious here (usually) than I am on the other blog; the guys and gals here have probably got a slightly more accurate picture of my personality because of the length of time I’ve been participating here and the disparate range of topics often discussed (although Sunny does a very good job on PP too). It’s an interesting place — stick around.
I was going to stick up for Kismet but, after reading some of his comments on PP this weekend, I think you’re right — he’d be far too risque even for our American cousins ! (Probably a good thing, considering the topic of this thread and Kismet’s various jokes on the matter during the similar recent debate on PP).
MoorNam is, to some extent, a Hindu version of our friend Ismaeel from PP, although he’s far more polite and less prone to below-the-belt retaliation.
Anyway, let the animal-marriage debate continue…..
I checked out the discussion forum on the Yahoo site where this story was originally “reported.” (I can’t call that story a report, it’s just a way for them to make fun of things that they don’t understand.) It’s so sad how ignorant, rude, and generally hurtful all those posts were. I wanted to reply and explain a bit, but I’m not sure. Do you guys think I should? Or are those people just too ignorant to help? There are over 1650 posts on there, so I’m not sure it’d even make a difference. thanks, Sonia
It must have been the venomous invective of the groom’s side that made them so unfriendly. Such snakes in the grass!
Anuja,
Maybe it is a good thing at times to laugh at oneself.
To be fair AK it was pouring cats and dogs this weekend.
Not that I was busy wooing them.
Most weddings in India are not legal in the American sense. There is no piece of paper to say you are married. It is mainly a social contract. If the society around this woman approves of the wedding, most of her rights will be derived from this approval. Her society forms her social security system – which in many ways is a more efficient one than that provided to our American sisters who end up marrying dogs, pigs and rats of all types. It is utterly redundant to wax forth on legal rights. It may end up taking 25 years of court proceedings to resolve any issues, so even from a practical point of view it makes no sense.
I don’t think we can be so literal minded about this wedding. How do we know how those villagers conceive of weddings? An entire village of 2000 people cannot be made up of perfect morons. There are at least 8 types of weddings recognized in the folklore and love is just one of them (Gandharva as someone pointed out above). Very often it is just used as a euphemism for a form of commitment or sacrifice. Sort of like saying someone’s wedded to their work. Except that they actually perform a ceremony. Maybe the banana tree marriages are for those who intend not to get married or something. Anyway, it’s good to know people are okay with same sex marriages at least. That’s a start.
CNN-IBN has http://www.ibnlive.com/news/woman-marries-a-cobra-in-orissa/12229-3.html
Sorry..messed it up
Here’s the Shaadi ka Video
And just when I think the world can’t get odder.
sigh
I’m kind of amused by this, I have to say. Hell, whatever works for her, right?
I hereby change my cock’s name to Cobra
Now to arrange for that trip to India…
brilliant. cnn will even go half way around the world for this. going by the level of detail to which most of these outlets cover indian news in general, i classify this as plain voyeurism.
let these people be. if you ask me, most of the things we think are “weird” are just unfamiliar. lot of things that are “cultured” are just familiar that’s all. reminds me of something that happened a little while back: a chinese friend of mine says she thinks milk smells horrible, and the very idea of drinking milk is revolting. but she says barbecued sparrows and coagulated pig’s blood are delicacies. from her pov, it probably makes sense.
it is just conditioning that makes us think something is weird.
CNN-IBN is a New Delhi based 24 hrs news channel. From their website: CNN-IBN is a partnership between Global Broadcast News (GBN), a TV18 Group Company, and Turner International (Turner) in India.
Mirax: Kismet would “be banned within seconds here at SM”
Jai: Kismet would be “far too risque even for our American cousins”
Your comments smack of intolerence and downright prejudice towards our American counterparts across the pind. How patronising to suggest that just because they are not British Asians, they cannot enjoy the simple god-given right to lovingly sellotape a hamster and dry-hump it so it doesn’t explode?
Shame on you.
So I take it the SM/sado-massochism jokes have long been flogged to death here?
oh well. i always knew i was getting old. in my day, we used to kick all amriki news channels out, as well as coke for good measure. 🙂
so let me clarify. this is insignificant news. media that does not cover more significant stories regularly, but carries this, is just being voyeuristic.
The question, though, is would your american counterparts know what sellotape is ?
Americans don’t use sellotape? No wonder Richard Gere’s hamster exploded all over the papers
I think it makes sense to me now and someone pointed it before as well. She seems to have married the snake as a symbol of Shiva.
Full name: Shiva the cobra
from what i know (atleast the brahmin rituals as practised today), the marriage is between a male and a female and one of the rituals is called kanyadaanam as it means giving away the girl. So, I am not so sure about Moornam’s assertion that the marriage can be between any two living things under hinduism. (in the mind of the saffron folks in India even the depiction of homosexual relationships in india is a problem)
Them rustic merkins probably think you have a pet rooster, kismet dear.
No, don’t. Big news websites like Yahoo always have discussions like that. You know how trolls are supposed to be outsiders or otherwise unwelcomed commenters, and usually come in ones or twos?… well, the discussions on those big news sites consist almost entirely of trolls. For the most part, gender/race/culture/ethnicity “reports” do not have discussions, they have juvenile hate fests, so don’t feed them.
Imagine the matrimonial ad
Suitable Cobra: male, simple minded family man, innocent divorcee no kids, 12 ft tall and handsom; Diet: non-veg, Drinks:No, Smokes: No Father runs rat extermination business, mother is now purse used by famous supermodel. Caste:Ophiophagus, Sub-caste:Hannah. Seeks union with Homo Sapien or any high caste primate.
AK is right. That snake must’ve had one kick-ass and mighty impressive biodata.
For those of you who are bummed at the prospects of not finding any suitable animals to marry and that there are no more out there, here is a biodata that might interest you.
If he/she interests you, please contact the Los Angeles zoo.
–Cheap Ass Desi
wow, Shruti cared when noone else did lol. thanks Shruti.
Kismet Hardy,
I’m not sure about the sadomasochism jokes, although maybe people here just aren’t willing to plumb those depths of humour. Or perhaps they’re just waiting for someone suitably outrageous to turn up and revive the genre. We’ve already covered the topic of spanking on numerous occasions. Well alright, the last one mainly involved me, along with a willing bootylicious female SM commenter who will remain nameless.
It’s interesting that you turn up here as soon as SM initiate a discussion topic involving dubious relationships with animals. Coincidence ? I think not…..
Ladies and Gentlemen of SM,
Kismet is one of my acquaintances from the British “Pickled Politics” blog. He’s very funny, but if you thought I was badmaash, you ain’t seen nothing yet — Kismet takes it right off the scale.
My apologies in advance on his behalf 😉
Divya,
Considering some of the insanity that goes on in some villages back in India, I am afraid I must beg to differ…..
I’m speaking generally, and not about the village where the snake-marriage occurred, although it may well apply in this case too. I don’t know.
Jai,
I’m both touched and choked
Touched by the gentle upward stroking motion of my left hand
Choked by the enormous pork sword I’m in the process of gobbling
Kismet miah,
When British people boast about being a “nation of animal-lovers”, I don’t think you were meant to take it literally.
You know what I’m talking about. Poor, unsuspecting Hanif the Hamster. May he rest in peace. He never saw you coming, did he. One squeak and the next thing he knew, Hamster Heaven.
oh puh-leese! apologize on his behalf – really Jai you’re starting to sound a tad imperial there mate. if people can’t take comments like the kind Kismet makes, they ought to have a kiddy AOL-style filter or sth.
!
PS Kismet, there’s no point consoling yourself about Hanif getting those 72 (hamster) virgins. It still doesn’t compensate for what you did to him.
And let’s not even get started on your “dosti” with Gulbadan the Goat.
Sonia,
Note the “;)” I included at the end of the sentence you’re quoting.
SIG:
I do realise you’re joking, but thought I should point out that the IPC section here only talks about unnatural sexual acts, not marriage per se. Frankly, it’ll be interesting to know about the Indian government recognises any marriage, or even, what would constitute recognition of a marriage in an Indian legal context.
That said guys, I think this is a new low for Sepia Mutiny.
you ain’t seen nothing yet, baby. we reserve the right to joke about whatever we want. i thought neeraja’s post was hilarious, personally, as were the first dozen or two responses before people started getting sanctimonious. be warned: pedantry and sanctimonious behaviour will only encourage us.
peace
Speaking of “only being encouraged,” I just want to point out that over in the room next door, ANNA has just raised the spectre of dating an airbrushing tool.
The last line is the best “Earlier this year, a tribal girl was married off to a dog on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.” Just to let people know its ok to marry animals. Ok, so now how do they consumate the marraige?
Doggy Style.
What is PP pliz?
I am sure if you were marrying a snake they would 🙂
As for the girl, may be the village was encouraged about prior story of a girl in Ranchi getting married to a dog. Every society has its own idiosyncracies. In US, people marry Michael Jackson.
PP is Pickled Politics
Dear Dr poetry in commotion: that was fun 🙂
And, PP, thanks!
Neeraja: good to hear you’re an animal lover :). I’ve volunteered with animal rescue for years (in India and here in the US) and adopted three of the feral cats I worked with.
Forget that – What’s sad is that 2000 desis will come out to show their love for a woman marrying a snake, but I bet Rs.Ten lakhs they wouldn’t have come out if she was marrying a black guy.
I have read this line about eight times today already and it still makes me crack up. Gulbadan the goat and Kaveri the Cow? What comes next?
Also, in keeping with the humorous mood of this post, does the cobra have a name? And what does the bride call herself? Mrs Cobra? Mrs Naagraj?