The traditional Hindu ceremony drew a crowd of over 3,000 people in the Indian village of Ghanteswara. The couples who owned the monkeys, animals revered in Hindu mythology, set them free after the ceremony to start their married life in the wild.

Manu, the groom, was first to arrive at the temple amidst music, dancing and fireworks. His simian bride Jhumuri joined him looking resplendent in a five-metre-long red sari and sandalwood makeup while priests chanted sacred hymns.

Unique experience

The monkey wedding nuptials were conducted by priest Daitari Dash who confirmed that, although the ceremony was a unique experience for him, he had been sure to follow the same rituals as he does in human weddings. And despite the fact that Manu and Jhumuri hadn’t had time to knock up a wedding list, they were showered with gifts from their guests. One local businessman gave the bride a gold necklace.

Bride and groom had been living locally prior to their union. Jhumuri had been found at a temple in the village and looked after by a woman called Mamina. Manu had been raised as a pet by a couple in a neighbouring village who had found him in an orchard. As a wedding gift the two monkeys were freed from the chains that they had previously been kept in, and have since been spotted frequenting the temple where the marriage took place.