Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Raindrops keep falling on my....

Ok kids, here's a lesson in cultural diversity:

Culture 1:
Indian village marries off toads in bid for rains

KHOCHAKANDAR, India (Reuters) - Two giants toads were married in a traditional Hindu ceremony in eastern India at the weekend by villagers hoping to propitiate the rain gods and end a dry spell.

Some 400 people cheered and blew conches as women put streaks of vermilion on the female toad's head while a band played music and priests solemnised the marriage to the chanting of Hindu hymns.

The toads were picked up from separate ponds, dressed in bright red clothes and brought to the marriage venue in a decorated palanquin in Khochakandar village in West Bengal state late on Sunday. The married toads were released into a pond after the ceremony in the village about 365 km (225 miles) north of the state capital, Calcutta.

Ok, fair enough.
Here's Culture 2:

Nepalese Women dance naked in hopes of getting rain

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - More than 100 women danced naked in a remote mountainous village in Nepal hoping the gods would be pleased and give them rain, a news report said Tuesday.

The women gathered at a local school, smeared their faces with black powder and danced naked last week at Darbang village, about 280 kilometres west of the capital, Kathmandu. "People in this area believe the (Hindu god) Mahadev will be happy and provide rain once women perform such a nude dance," the Kathmandu Post quoted local teacher as saying.


You know which rain-making method i'm cheering for, don't you.... and yes in fact, I am checking the weather in Nepal right now.

2 comments:

genetic lorax said...

This is great. Now I would really be impressed if the frogs in India RAINED on the people in Katmandu. That would be some magic.

dorna! said...

Well I don't see what the fuss is about. We have that every year here, drought or not. It's called Carnival. :7