SOCIETY

Kids in Himachal Pradesh blacken their faces to attract rain god

     Rad Village (Himachal Pradesh): In what is believed to be an age-old custom, villagers in Himachal Pradesh are painting the faces of their children black in a bid to 'attract' reticent rain god. Ten-year-old Pankaj's native Rad Village here is facing a drought-like situation and to overcome this problem he has blackened his face to attract rain god. "There have been no rains in the region for a long while. There is a drought-like situation here. Our elders feel that if we blacken our face, the rains will surely come. And if that is the case, I am willing to help in any way I can," Pankaj said. Once painted, the children shout and dance to attract the deity of rain. Villagers hope that the dance by children will break the dry spell. "We have heard this from our grandfathers that by painting their faces black, the rain Gods will shower their mercy on us," said Nirmala, a villager. The weather situation in the state broke past records this year, with January being bereft of rain and snow for the first time in 37 years. According to the weather department, the entire region is facing an unusually long dry spell.
-Feb 5, 2007    

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