Hindu frog wedding, What is the frog ritual for rain

Bengal is sweltering under a heatwave, with everyone hoping for a little rain. The culture and traditions of Bengal are infused with prayers for the monsoon. Satyendranath Dutta, the magician of rhythm, has said, "Chatak bari yache re? Se amader Bangla desh, amaderi Bangla re!" The chatak bird in this country yearns for water. In their prayers for rain, local children recite:

Hindu frog wedding, What is the frog ritual for rain

Come heavy rain,

We will measure out the rice.

The songs of Abbasuddin also echo this plea for rain: "Allah megh de, pani de, chaya de re tui" (God give us clouds, water, and shade).

When the heat becomes intense, rural areas often witness the tradition of marrying frogs, believing that their union will bring rain. A feast is arranged, and people sing:

The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Frog, baskets on their heads,

Oh frog, go bring us water, go bring us,

No water in the canal,

No water in the pond,

Let the sky break into drops of water.

Throughout Bengal, many customs are observed in the hope of rain. In Malda, there is a tradition called "Gachhingri" where a young boy, born in his maternal uncle’s home, is made to build a small hut around a tree trunk, unseen by others, and fill it with asafoetida to summon rain, according to local belief.

Another custom is "Nodapota", where the most quarrelsome woman's kitchen scraper is stolen and buried in another household's courtyard. It is believed that her ensuing quarrel will anger the clouds enough to make it rain.