Praying for the Monsoon with Frog Weddings and Mud Baths

Thousands of people await the monsoon to beat the heatwave. In fact, farmers all over the country pray for its timely arrival and depend on the downpour to wash away their financial miseries. Agonizing over delayed monsoon makes them indulge in many rituals to persuade Indra, the god of thunder and lightning, to bless them with steady rain. Many of these rituals are unknown and unusual, here are top 4 of them:

When Raja Met Rani

It is believed that if frogs are married off in the 'traditional' way, the rain god is pleased and the heavens open within days. Hence, frogs Raja (L) and Rani (R) were 'joined in holy matrimony' in a ceremony to usher in the delayed monsoon rains in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

We wish the couple a happy married life.

Hawan Karenge

Men sit in utensils filled with water as they perform "Parjanya Yagya," a ritual to bring rains through Vedic techniques in Ahmedabad.

Sons of the Soil

Children lie in sludge as a ritual to induce rain in Allahabad.

Preparing For the Future

Women plough the field as a ritual to induce rain in village Barha, about 32 kilometers from Allahabad.

Taming the Rain

Farmers perform a ritual with sticks as they pray for rain during the Manda Festival at a temple on the outskirts of Ranchi.

Have you heard of similar rituals? Share them with the world using the comments box below.