Speed Post News Network
Bagaha: Distraught due to deficient rains for the last three weeks under Sidhav, Ramnagar, Gaunaha blocks, north of Don Canal, and non- irrigated Piparasi, Madhubani, Bhitaha, and Thakaraha blocks in West Champaran district, farmers of Sidhav block have started frog wedding rituals to please rain god.
Ram Pravesh Ram of Ghohatitola in Laxmipur-Dhalabazawa panchayat under Sidhav block said, ” We organised wedding of two frogs as a part of a ritual to please rain god on July 18, 2018, as we are apprehendin drought like situation due to scanty rain. A poster depicting the frog wedding hung on the wall of a room full of people to witness the ritual. The people participating in the wedding procession danced to the drum beats to celebrate the special union of the frogs.
The organisers of the event said the wedding was organised to please Lord Indra, the god of rain, for rain in the area. There is an old belief that the wedding of frogs makes rain god happy. The deficient rain has affected transplantation of Paddy seedlings.
The farmers of Gonauli, Malakauli, Banakatawa, Mahadeva, Bairia, Sunderppur, Deoria, Jimari, Hathuyanawa, Kadamaha, Dholabazawa,
Mahabir Oraon, a farmer of Dholabazawa, said,” We had repeatedly been requesting to CM Nitish Kumar to ensure irrigation facility whenever he visited the area.” The farmers demand a lift irrigation project for the Tharuhat and Dhangraon belt saying that the is only solution.
Vinay Kumar, an Agriculture Officer under Bagaha Sub-Division, said that farmers of North of Don canal areas depend on rain for agriculture and this year scanty rain has forced them to delay paddy transplantation though their seedlings are withering away for want of irrigation.