Animal lover Odisha teacher takes calf as ‘Markundi’ during barat, watch

Bhubaneswar: In a rare and inspiring incident a school teacher in Odisha has set an example lately by taking a calf as ‘Markundi’ during his barat. The incident was witnessed in the Patharagadia village in Chandaka area on the outskirts of the capital city of Odisha.

Tarakanta Behera is a teacher in the Ideal School of Patharagadia. Moreover, he is an animal lover. According to him it was his wish since long that during his marriage he would take a calf to accompany him during his marriage procession. And finally he did so lately.

The interesting episode was witnessed recently in the Patharagadia village on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. A crowd was seen near a house and preparation was going on for a marriage procession. In between people, a calf was there in the crowd. It was decorated a little bit while kids were playing with it.

Within some time it was seen that the groom started making up the calf. He applied scandal paste on the forehead of the calf.

Later the groom set out for the marriage. He ceremonially came out of the house and prostrated in front of the calf and offered it some sweet and fruit. Then the groom’s mother fed him curd, which is regarded as a symbol of good wish. Then the teacher took the calf with him and set on the decorated car and set out for the marriage procession.

As per a tradition in Odisha, a ‘Markundi’ accompanies the groom while going for the marriage procession. This tradition is prevalent in some areas of Odisha. Generally, a kid becomes a Markundi. Often, the Markundi is the younger brother of the groom or a relative. The Markundi is also given make up and attire akin to the groom. More clearly, a human child becomes a Markundi during a marriage. However, in this case a calf was seen as the Markundi.

Why the teacher did so? He informed that by doing so he wanted to convey a message to the society to take care of cattle. The animal lover teacher has set an example by making the calf his Markundi during the marriage and many people have admired him for this noble gesture.

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