Bizarre Rituals to Bring the Monsoon Rain in India

Mating frogs in India.
www.flickr.com user Karmalize

The rain gods haven't been kind this monsoon season in India. While the monsoon arrived a week early in Kerala, in late May, Cyclone Aila over in West Bengal literally stole its thunder.

Mumbai is only just starting to receive the first monsoon rain now, two weeks late, while northern India continues to swelter under extremely hot weather. The temperature in Delhi has been consistently hovering around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), and there's a dire water shortage is many areas of India. This includes Mumbai, where the city is suffering a 20% water cut.

Such an extreme situation calls for extreme measures. As a result, frogs are being married off and holy fire ceremonies are being held to appease the rain gods. Frog weddings with full Vedic rites are perhaps the most bizarre ritual, but it's one that's believed to bring rain within a few days. Let's hope it's successful!