A pair of golden frogs were united in wedlock by people anxious to appease the rain gods and bring relief from the sweltering heat in a Malda village in West Bengal.

With temperatures hitting 44�C on Sunday and the drying up of all water sources, the villagers of Mangalpura performed all the formalities associated with a traditional Hindu marriage for the frogs on Sunday night.

Exchange of garlands, putting the vermillion mark on the bride (female frog), amidst sacred chants of the priest Tarapada Sil made it a perfect amphibian wedding.

The guests, however, had to remain satisfied with a piece of sugar candy as the single course menu of the ceremony.

The newly-married couple was later released in an almost dried up pond.

The priest told reporters that he was sure that it would rain heavily within a day or two.

"It is my experience and the villagers also believe it," Sil said.