500 dogs set to say ‘I do’ at mass dog wedding event

If every dog had its day, it would surely get a chance to say, “I do”. To help find a mate for your dog, Ansal Plaza is hosting a mass marriage for dogs on August 30.

Pegged as the first mass dog wedding in India, the venue will have 500 dogs, clad in snazzy bridal outfits, bond with partners for life. The event, scheduled to take place at the Amphitheatre in Ansal Plaza, will also feature speed-dating for pooches.

Dog lovers, meanwhile, are eager-eyed about the event. “For months I had been looking for ways to give my dog a social life,” said V K Gupta, a businessman whose pug would participate in the mass canine wedding. The owner of 14 dogs, said, “I got to know about the event through a message forwarded by my friend. Though I don’t know what to expect I hope she gets the right mate.”

So, is this a publicity stunt for the mall? “It is not a publicity stunt; neither are we trying to break any record. It is part of our corporate social responsibility initiatives, and the purpose is to spread an animal-friendly image of the mall,” said Abhijit Das, additional general manager, Ansal Plaza.

Of late, Ansal Plaza has taken over 25 municipal schools across Delhi. After the event, some dogs would be allowed inside the mall with certain conditions escorted by a dog marshal.

Till now, 70 dogs owners have registered for the event, Das said. “The registration, for free, opened a few days ago,” he said. “We have received a lot of queries and have a week to go before it closes.” As per the procedure, a dog-owner sends photographs of the pets and mall officials provide a select choice of the mates to the owner.

“We will speak to the owner and ask what type of mates they require,” Das said. “All entries will be carefully screened.”

The mall would deploy dog marshals to avoid any untoward incident and has also roped in dog experts to oversee arrangements.

But are Delhiites ready for such an event? Interior designer Priya Kapoor, who owns two English mastiffs and a Rottweiler, said, “I have three male dogs, so I don’t require to fret over them.” Animal rights activist Geeta Sheshmani, of Friendicoes, said: “Though it is not illegal to organise such an event, it has no cultural significance. People would find it bizarre and unnatural. It would be very uncomfortable for the dogs, too.”

But, then, some are already getting the trousseau ready. Shailee Seth, a homemaker with a six-month-old Great Dane, is stocking up on veils. “I have never attended such an event before and I don’t know what to expect,” she said. “But I definitely want my pooch to look the best.”