Cow swayamvar in Andhra Pradesh: Bulls from across nation to test their luck

KAKINADA: A general practitioner in the sleepy coastal town of Kakinada is holding a "swayamvaram" on Sunday to enable his two-year-old pet cow, Sarana, to select her partner. And Nandis (bulls) from various states will stand in a queue for the cow swayamvaram, the first of its kind in these parts. There will be wedding and nuptial rituals as per Shastras and expert pundits from Tirupati and neighbouring Tamil Nadu will perform the ceremonies.

Cow swayamvaram is popular in Madhya Pradesh while bakri (goat) swayamvaram is an annual affair in Uttarakhand. But it's a novel idea in Andhra Pradesh, though celebration of "cradle ceremony" for the newborn calves is quite popular in parts of the state, particularly in Godavari districts.

As many as 16 animal enthusiasts from different parts of India are attending with their bulls to test the luck of their pets at the cow swayamvarm.