5000 well-wishers gather to watch two dogs tie the knot (see photos)

If you think a canine wedding is bizarre then consider that it was no puppy affair with over 5000 guests in attendance complete with all the trappings of a traditional Hindu wedding. The unusual ceremony was held in the village of Parawa, in the northern-Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The groom, Shagun, and his bitch, Shaguniya, were dressed in children's clothes and said their vows on a purpose-built podium to raucous cheers from the crowd.

Jung, the father of the bitch, said: 'I raised her like my own daughter. Today, I am giving her hand in marriage to Shagun. I wish the couple a happy married life together.'
Excited guests danced to music played by an orchestra and traditional Indian cuisine was served to hungry revellers.

Jung gave Shaguniya a tearful send off as his beloved pet departed in the car with the groom.
Guests said the unusual ceremony was a 'historic one', which demonstrated Indian society's love for their dogs.