Naked women plough fields to propitiate Rain God

Mirzapur, July 13 (UNI) Close on the heels of women practising 'nude ritual' in Sant Ravidasnagar, women here also ploughed fields in the nude, out of a belief that it will propitiate the rain Gods.

The unusual ritual took place at village Peer Khan in Kachwa area, where over 12 women ploughed fields after shunning clothes and bathing late last night.

According to ancient beliefs, 'Indra Dev' (Rain God) gets pleased by the 'nude ritual' and showers His might on the thirsty fields.

The villagers said, they had been practising the ritual for last few years and it has proved to be their lucky charm. Last year too, they claimed to have earned a respite from the rain Gods in a similar fashion.

The people hoped that this year too, the placatory step would work and make the prospects of their crops good.

People are also trying to please the rain Gods through other means. While some are seen chanting 'mantras' and 'shlokas' from the Hindus' holy text of Gita and Ramayan, others are observing fasts for the arrival of rainfall.

Due to shimmering heat and delayed monsoons, the entire Eastern UP is on the brink of drought.

Since the advent of June, several deaths had been reported in Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Deoria and Maharajganj districts, following the outbreak of deadly diseases like Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and diarrhoea.

UNI