Two Indian families "married off" their sons to a female dog in order to ward off a bad omen when both children started teething through their upper gums.

Footage from January 22 shows the ceremony and locals gathering in Dadusahi village in Mayurbhanj district, eastern India.

The Ho tribe follows the tradition of marrying their infants to dogs of the opposite gender if they develop their first teeth through the upper gums.

This tradition has been followed by the community for generations between the Holi festival of Makar Sankranti and Shivratri.

The Ho tribe follows the tradition of marrying their offsprings to dogs of the opposite gender if their infants develop first teeth through the upper gum which is considered a “bad omen” in Mayurbhanj distric Odhissa India

On 22 January in Dadusahi village, two families married off their sons to a female dog as both children had started teething through the upper gums.

The Two families resorted to the practice to ward off evil spirits, a tradition followed by the community for generations between the Holy festival of Makar Sankranti and Shiv Ratri.

The “marriage” ceremony of his son was held at a junction of two roads amidst a local gathering. Sources said the two children were treated as grooms and the dog, bride.