In Pics | Unusual Indian practices to appease the rain god

From frog weddings to naked ploughing, here we take a look at some of the unusual rituals practised across the country to appease the rain god.

Frog Wedding: One of the most followed rituals, people organise a wedding of frogs to appease the rain god, Lord Indra. Many believe that performing a frog wedding will make lord Indra happy and he will bless us with good rains. Credit: MS Manjunath/DH Photo

Varuna Yajna: Priests perform a special puja by immersing themselves in barrels of water and chanting the name of Lord Varuna 1,000 times as a prayer to bring rainfall. Credit: Reuters Photo

Kappathalli: The Kappathalli dance is performed in parts of Andhra Pradesh to appease the rain god. People perform a folk dance where two men shoulder a pole with a frog tied in the middle. Credit: DH Pool Photo

Vanavasam: There is a belief in Telangana that the rain gods will heed penance and make it rain if people leave their homes and spend the day in the forest as part of an exile, Vanavasam. Credit: DH Pool Photo

Mud-bath: People in the Uttar Pradesh region believe that throwing or bathing a person in mud would please Indra, the god of rain. In some parts, they even bury their children up to the neck to appease deities hoping that the ritual would bring early rains. Credit: Screengrab from Video shared by ANINews UP

Naked Ploughing: In Uttar Pradesh as part of a custom to bring rain, women plough the fields naked at night for rainfall. Credit: PTI Photo