Adilabad: Farmers, who have been desperately waiting for rains for more than two weeks, are now resorting to ancient traditions to seek rains following a prolonged dry spell.
Erstwhile Adilabad district has continued to see deficient rainfall for over a fortnight, worrying farmers. While Adilabad district registered 219 mm of rainfall from June 1 to July 16 as against the normal rainfall of 381 mm, reflecting a deficit by 42 percent, Mancherial district recorded 190 mm of rainfall compared with the normal rainfall 327 mm, showing a deficit by 42 percent.
Similarly, Nirmal district had 207 mm of rainfall as against normal rainfall of 330 mm, indicating a deficit of 37 percent. Kumram Bheem Asifabad district experienced 268 mm of rainfall when compared to 372 mm, posting a deficit by 28 percent. A major portion of mandals in the four districts is yet to achieve normal rainfall, worrying farmers.
The farmers sowed seeds of cotton, paddy, soy and other crops expecting rains in the first week of July. They are, however, anxious over the prolonged dry spell. They are celebrating Kappathalli and Bathukamma festivals to appease rain God in villages in Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal and Kumram Bheem Asifabad districts. Some of them perform Abhisekam to village deities.
The farmers tie a frog to a wooden stick and take out a procession, praying to rain God. They dance to drum beats during the procession. They revere Bathukamma idol requesting her to shower rains. Women sing songs hailing the deity seeking rains. Villages come alive at the time of the rituals and festivals.
The farmers reasoned that they were going back to ancient rituals as paddy, cotton and other crops were on the verge of withering due to the dry spell. They added that the rituals have traditionally been yielding desired results by bringing back rains and helping them in saving the crops. They stated that they would worship rain God whenever prolonged dry spells threatened them.
