Hundreds of people gathered to witness a bizarre wedding between two rats that is believed to symbolize the prosperous business in northeastern Thailand.

Two healthy Bandicotas were taken into well-decorated enclosures to take them in a marriage ceremeony in Nakhon Phanom province on August 10.

A marching band took the eight-month-old male mouse named Namchok to make a marriage proposal to Kamrai Thong, the mouse bride.

The dowry offered by the owners of the male rat was 19,999 Baht (around 490 GBP). Thai culture suggests that the groom should give money to the bride's parents.

The newlyweds were later taken into the bridal apartment that was made of cement tubes, covered by white and pink fabrics.

The groom's caretaker, Prawit Samngamkeaw, 38, said he wanted to make good business cooperation with one of the best Bandicota rat farms in the region. The rats are bred for their meat, which is eaten in different cultures including Hawaiian, Vietnamese, French, Indian and Thai.

Prawit said: "It would be great if our two farms have such a good connection, so we arrange the wedding for the two best breeders."

Bride owner Krittipob Champachin, 51, said his rat farm has raised good Bandicota breeds for sale for more than three years.

He said: "This is a good chance to increase the business opportunities between two rat farms. We hope the mouse business in Thailand will grow.''

It is believed that the wedding was one of the strangest ceremonies that ever happened in the Buddhist country.

Peculiarly, dozens of grilled Bandicota rats were also served as meals at the wedding receptions, together with other food and drinks.

Farm owners sell Bandicota rats around the country.