Technology at bay as superstition rules villagers

Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, July 9 (UNI) Even as man is aiming for Mars and technology is making inroads into every aspect of human life, but for villagers at Pudur near Thathaiangarpet, age-old traditions and customs still remain dominant say.

To placate ''Varuna Bhagwan''(Rain God), the villagers today staged a unique ritual by crying before an effigy of a ''Drought Demon''.

The villagers, especially women folk, believe that the ritual would placate the Rain God and it would bring showers (rain) to their village.

''A couple of years ago, when the village was reeling under severe drought, we had performed a similar ritual and it brought heavy rains to our village within a week,'' the villagers claimed.

The villagers had made an effigy in clay (described as ''Drought Demon'') and carried it in a procession through every nook and corner of the village.

Following this, the women folk would cry before the effigy and would continue with the ritual for one week.

The effigy would be immersed in their village lake once it rains.

UNI