An Indian man who believed he had been cursed for stoning to death two dogs has atoned for his sin by marrying another dog in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony.

P. Selvakumar, a 33-year-old farm labourer from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, married the four-year-old stray bitch after it was bathed and processed to his village temple dressed in an orange sari and garlanded with flowers.

• The marriage took place on the advice of the man’s astrologer who said it was the only way to atone for his actions of more than 20 years ago.

• He was reported to have suffered a series of physical ailments after stoning the dogs to death and hanging their bodies from a tree.

“After that my legs and hands got paralysed and I lost hearing in one ear,” said Mr Selvakumar after the ceremony with his new “bride”, whose name is Selvi.

• A reception attended by some 200 guests was held for the newlyweds in the groom’s house during which Selvi grew restless and ran away.

• However she was subsequently recaptured and returned to her husband who gave her milk and a bun to eat.

• It is understood that the groom is still free to find a human wife should he be inclined.

• Mr Selvakumar is not the first man to have hit the headlines for having romantic relations with animals.

• Last year a Sudanese man was forced to marry a goat after village elders discovered him having sex with her. The goat died shortly afterwards.

source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk