Locals Resort To Age-Old Tradition Of Frog Wedding To Get Respite From Heatwave In Assam

It is ultimately tradition that has come to the help of humans impacted by the modern woes of climate change in India.

Amidst the ongoing heat wave in Assam, locals in the town of Dergaon in Golaghat district have resorted to age-old ways to please the rain gods - marrying of frogs in a ceremony with proper rituals, replete with a priest.

ANI

Farmers most affected by the heat wave

Speaking to the local media, a resident said, "We need the rain. Due to a lack of rains, farmers are facing a lot of trouble. Most of the people here are involved in farming, and they have no other sources of income."

The priest who married off the frogs added, "The frogs were married with the hope of it bringing rains and ensuring a successful farming season."

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According to a mythological Hindu belief, if wild frogs are married according to Vedic rites and rituals, it could help bring rainfall in the coming days.

Assam heatwave

For more than 2 weeks now, Assam has been facing a heatwave with the maximum temperature touching 38¡ãC frequently. Several cities and towns in the state have witnessed a gradual rise in temperature by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius.

Faced with such intense heat, schools in certain districts have set advanced timings. For instance, the Nagaon district administration received a letter from the inspector of schools, Nagaon, on June 2, 2023, regarding shifting of normal school time in Nagaon district due to the continuous rise of the Mercury level and prevailing scorching heat.

Previous frog marriages

In 2019, a 'bhekuli biya' was performed in Assam¡¯s Sivasagar district. In Assamese, Bhekuli means frog and biya means marriage, so bhekuli biya literally means frog marriage.

The marriage ceremony was performed as per Assamese customs and rituals. Speaking to the media, a villager said, ¡°Organising the marriage of frogs is part of our folk culture.. We are expecting heavy rainfall in a day or two."

Another frog wedding that grabbed headlines was held in 2016 in Assam's Jorhat district.

#WATCH: A unique wedding of frogs organised by locals in Jorhat (Assam) to appease rain Gods.https://t.co/9bxfat7D1o

¡ª ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2016

Impact of climate change

Such incidents only go to show the impact of climate change in the State. The report of 'Assam State Action Plan On Climate Change' states that since the last 60 years (1951-2010), the annual mean temperature in Assam has increased by 0.59 degree Celsius and the annual rainfall has decreased by -2.96/mm per year.

The increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall has mainly affected the agricultural sector. Erratic rainfall affects farmers the most, whose planned cultivation and expected income goes for a toss.

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