The small Pantwadi village located in Tehri Garhwal district would witness a ceremony where Deepika, Katrina and Priyanka would choose their life partners.
These three are names of the nannies (female goats) that would choose their bridegroom from among fifteen handsome bucks (male goats). The organisers of this unique ‘Swayamvar’ have even printed the invitation cards for the ceremony which will be held on the occasion of Maha- Shivratri on February 24. This Swayamvar is being organised by the ‘Green People’ a non governmental organisation (NGO). This organisation would do ‘Kanya Dan’ of the brides. Roopesh Rai the founder of Green People said that 15 bucks coming from nearby villages would be divided into group of five. This group of would be left in an enclosure with one nanny. The buck able to seek the attention of the she goats would be declared as bridegroom and a marriage ceremony would follow.
The marriages would be solemnised with all rituals. The organisers would also give cash prize to owners of the male goats so that they are prompted for indulging breed improvement activities.
Rai said that the objective of the ceremony is to inculcate awareness about improving the gene pool of the local ‘Gaddhi’ variety of goat. He claimed that continuous inbreeding has resulted in deterioration of this variety of the goat as it milk yield has dropped. Subhash Ramola, the founder of famous goat village concept said that more than 500 villagers are expected to take part in the event. In goat villages the tourists are offered home stays in the villages of Uttarakhand.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uttarakhand Sheep and Wool Development board Dr Avinash Anand appreciated the objectives behind the Goat Swayamvar. He said that his department would set up many stalls during the two day event where information about various schemes would be provided. Under brand name ‘ Bakari Chhap’ the Green People is marketing organic produce of small farmers of the mountain state.