Sinlung /
21 June 2011

A Frog Match To Appease The Rain God in Assam

    Photos: Luit Chaliha

    Not everybody loves a good drought in Assam and not atleast the villagers of Kaloogaon area in Assam's Sivasagar district. A dry spell that has hit most parts of Assam over the past two months, which has led to severe water shortages for irrigation. Thus the worried villagers arranged for an unique marriage – the wedlock between two frogs.

    The ceremony was performed by two priests and attended by nearly 500 people from the surrounding areas. It is a Hindu belief in the region that frog marriages please the rain god. For many people, the sound of frogs croaking is a sign that a monsoon will soon come. “We hope the frogs can help and rain will come down,” says Hemen Kalita, a villager.

    But, organising the marriage ceremony was no mean task. All customs of a Hindu Assamese marriage were performed, marriage song were sung and the bride was given loads of gifts. A grant feast with various Assamese delicacies was on the platter. The guests blessed the couple and prayed for rains.

    Text by Ratnadip Choudhury
    ratnadip@tehelka.com

    0 comments:

    Post a Comment