Desperate times call for desperate measures. With rains playing truant, delaying its progress to Vidarbha, people of the city are rallying People tied the knots of Raja (left) and Rani (right) the two frogs near Futala in Nagpur. (TOI photo)
with traditional methods even though it would make the purists squirm with outrage. On Saturday morning a sizeable crowd, consisting largely of women and children, participated in a unique marriage that's expected to usher in the monsoon season, hopefully, at the earliest.
The groom was Raja and the bride Rani. The two were frogs. Their marriage was solemnized, to please the Rain God, by the residents of Futala, a suburb in Nagpur. It's believed that if frogs are married off with full Vedic rites and traditional marriage rituals, it could bring rain within a few days. For the record, the met office said that the monsoon is expected to arrive in Vidarbha by June 24.
Ankita Awasti, a computer applications student and one of the organizers of the unique wedding, said she had heard stories about frog marriages from her elders. Her family and friends decided to arrange one such wedding keeping in view the delayed rainfall this year, which is causing severe hardships to the common man and farmers as well.
Raja proved difficult to find. It took three days of intense search to find him. He was finally spotted in a nullah near the Mental Hospital, about 5 kms from the marriage spot. On the other hand, Rani was found near Telangkhedi Lake, a stone's throw distance from Futala. "Around 200 people attended the wedding which helped in creating an awareness among people to care and love animals," Ankita.
Pandit Pradip Kumar, who solemnized the wedding, said that all the rituals were performed as in any normal Hindu marriage. "This included vara satkaarah (welcoming the groom's party), kanyadaan (giving away the bride), vivah homa (marriage ceremony), panigrahan (auspicious pooja), pratigna karan (oath-taking to remain wedded), manual phera (circumambulating the auspicious fire), saptapadi (ceremony for the couple), aashirvad (blessing from the elders)," he said. "This is the first time that I have solemnized such a marriage and I am confident that rains would surely arrive soon as it's been done with shraddha and bhakti by the people and for a good cause."
with traditional methods even though it would make the purists squirm with outrage. On Saturday morning a sizeable crowd, consisting largely of women and children, participated in a unique marriage that's expected to usher in the monsoon season, hopefully, at the earliest.
The groom was Raja and the bride Rani. The two were frogs. Their marriage was solemnized, to please the Rain God, by the residents of Futala, a suburb in Nagpur. It's believed that if frogs are married off with full Vedic rites and traditional marriage rituals, it could bring rain within a few days. For the record, the met office said that the monsoon is expected to arrive in Vidarbha by June 24.
Ankita Awasti, a computer applications student and one of the organizers of the unique wedding, said she had heard stories about frog marriages from her elders. Her family and friends decided to arrange one such wedding keeping in view the delayed rainfall this year, which is causing severe hardships to the common man and farmers as well.
Raja proved difficult to find. It took three days of intense search to find him. He was finally spotted in a nullah near the Mental Hospital, about 5 kms from the marriage spot. On the other hand, Rani was found near Telangkhedi Lake, a stone's throw distance from Futala. "Around 200 people attended the wedding which helped in creating an awareness among people to care and love animals," Ankita.
Pandit Pradip Kumar, who solemnized the wedding, said that all the rituals were performed as in any normal Hindu marriage. "This included vara satkaarah (welcoming the groom's party), kanyadaan (giving away the bride), vivah homa (marriage ceremony), panigrahan (auspicious pooja), pratigna karan (oath-taking to remain wedded), manual phera (circumambulating the auspicious fire), saptapadi (ceremony for the couple), aashirvad (blessing from the elders)," he said. "This is the first time that I have solemnized such a marriage and I am confident that rains would surely arrive soon as it's been done with shraddha and bhakti by the people and for a good cause."
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