Prayers for rain in Asom

Guwahati, Aug 19 (UNI) While western India is deluged, drought is stalking eastern India and praying to the Rain God and wait is all one could do in Assam now.

People of Asom, facing drought-like conditions this year, have turned to the Gods for rain with 'frog marriages' and organising special namaz.

For a state where floods are an annual 'ritual', the scanty rainfall has caught many unawares, including the government.

The administration was all set to deal with flood, especially after the problem was declared a national calamity last year. The Met office, too, predicted in June that 'at the worst, the NE region would get average rainfall'.

But the weathermen lived up to their reputation and the Rain God refused to smile down or rather rain down on the region.

All the NE states, including Meghalaya, which sees world's highest rainfall in Cherapunjee, has recorded up to 30 per cent deficit rainfall so far this monsoon.

The farmers have been worst hit and being at wit's end, they have now resorted to old superstitions to appease the Gods.

'Frog marriages' have been performed in the country for centuries during drought conditions. Asom, too, is 'hosting' such marriages by the dozens on a daily basis.

A farmer Riten Deka of Nalbari said, ''We don't have power to create rains. All we can do is appease the lords to favour us.'' The Islam followers are also organising special namaz on Sunday for rains.

'Istekar namaz' would be read throughout the state tomorrow in the fields between 1000 hours to 1100 hours.

Altogether five persons have died due to the severe heat conditions and the people are desperate for rains. If praying brings rains, so be it.

UNI SG KK AB 1624