Farmers Turn to Rituals for Rain

Karimnagar:Delayed monsoon conditions linked to El Niño have affected agricultural activity across rural areas, with farmers turning to traditional practices in the absence of adequate rainfall.

Even a month after the onset of the monsoon, agricultural operations have not gained momentum, impacting allied sectors amid drought-like conditions.

While El Niño is cited as a reason for the delay in rains, villagers attribute the poor monsoon to the displeasure of rain deities and have been performing rituals to seek rainfall.

‘Kappathalli Aata’ is among the rituals being observed. Villagers tie a frog to a stick and take out a procession, sprinkling water on it to induce croaking, which they believe signals rainfall. Another practice involves ‘Jalabhishekam’, where residents pour water on village deities.

Such rituals were reported from Elabaka in Veenavanka mandal, Kistaraopalli in Ramadugu mandal, and Suddapalli in Pegadapalli mandal of Jagtial district.

In Aabadjammikunta under Jammikunta municipality, residents vacated their homes on Sunday and spent the day outside as part of a ritual to drive away misfortune. In Rudrangi of Sircilla, villagers carried out a procession with broomsticks and old items and later discarded the material on the outskirts, as part of similar practices.

The rituals reflect community responses to the continuing delay in rainfall.