PATNA, INDIA — Farmers in an eastern portion of India are desperate for rain. With fields drying and crops dying, their only hope is to embarrass the weather gods into bringing relief via a much-needed monsoon. In order to accomplish that, they’ve asked their unmarried daughter to get naked. Given that a public kiss between unmarried members of the opposite sex can turn into a national scandal and an accusation of obscenity, the idea that a father would ask his virgin daughter to expose her body sounds pretty wild, but Reuters reports that such is precisely the case.
“They believe their acts would get the weather gods badly embarrassed, who in turn would ensure bumper crops by sending rain,” village council official Upendra Kumar explained from the remote Bihar town of Banke Bazaar.
The “acts” in question include the girls dragging plows while chanting ancient hymns shortly after sunset.
Fortunately, the young women and girls don’t need to bear the entire weight of the plow. Elderly women traditionally help them.
“This is the most trusted social custom in the area,” Kumar remarked, “and the villagers have cowed to continue this practice until it rains very heavily.”
India’s annual monsoon season is starting later than it has in eight decades this year, resulting in drought for some areas.
