By Anil Sharma. Rajasthan, India, 10:31 AM IST

Come December, 18 dogs will get 'married' in a traditional ceremony here amid dancing, beauty pageants and fashion shows. The exclusive invites are already out!

The mega pet show 'will popularise canine culture in the city' on Dec 17, said Puja Rathi, CEO of B Positive, an event management company set to host the event along with the Pink City Canine Club.

'The marriages will be solemnised as per Indian traditions, including a procession, rituals and a huge feast. The dogs will arrive in a special vehicle at the proposed venue to unite with their better halves,' she added.

Nine dogs and nine bitches will be matched after a lucky draw. The club has even printed special invitation cards segregating the bride and groom's sides, said Seema Sethi, the secretary of the Pink City Canine Club.

A special dance party - complete with DJ - will see 50 species of dogs wag their tail and shake a paw.

The designers of a Jaipur-based institute of fashion will dress the dogs for a fashion show in evening wear, party wear, casual wear, summer wear and winter wear.

Next in the line would be a jewellery show!

'It's for the first time in Asia that a jewellery show has been arranged for dogs. Dog jewellery by various eminent designers would be showcased in the show, Rathi added. She said the annual market of dog jewellery in the US is about Rs.12 billion. The craze for dog jewellery is now picking up India, she added.

In a bid to make the event a success, a huge dog rally would also be organised in the city. The aim of the rally is to publicise the event, curb animal cruelty and help street dogs.

Any person adopting a street dog would be awarded Rs.1,100 and free dog food for a year. A beauty pageant is also scheduled for unmarried dogs.

In the 'Vo Kaun Hai' (who is he) show, a Bollywood star would be present along with his or her dog. 'We are not disclosing the name of the star as it is going to be a surprise,' Rathi said.

By Anil Sharma (Staff Writer, © IANS)