Donkeys fed 'gulab jamuns' in ritual amid rainfall deficit in 35 MP districts
In Madhya Pradesh, India, residents performed a ritual feeding donkeys 'gulab jamuns' to invoke rain during a period of below-normal monsoon precipitation. Despite the ritual, meteorological data indicates that some areas have actually received above-average rainfall, while others remain in deficit.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of traditional cultural practices and modern meteorological data in rural India during climate-sensitive periods.
BHOPAL: Donkeys were fed 'gulab jamuns' in Bhopal on Saturday as part of a traditional ritual aimed at invoking rainfall in Madhya Pradesh, where 35 districts have so far recorded below-normal precipitation this monsoon season.The ritual was held around 11 am along Kolar Road. Participants also offered prayers seeking good rainfall across the state, according to news agency PTI.One of the participants said the ritual was performed to please Indra, the Hindu god of rain.Interestingly, Bhopal itself has received 400.3 millimetres of rainfall since the onset of the monsoon, which is 44 per cent above the normal average for this period, according to SN Sahu, senior meteorologist at the India Meteorological Department's Bhopal office.Sahu said Madhya Pradesh is likely to witness a wet spell beginning…
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