Summer is at hand and India doesn't seem to be prepared to cope with the drought that 2016 might bring with it. The only hope that we have might be a handful of beliefs that have been passed on by generations to cope with drought-like conditions and appease the rain gods. India is facing the worst water crisis in years There have been several instances of violence across the country over water and desperate attempts have been made, like the ones listed below, to bring rains and peace to the land.

Varuna yajna

The Lord of Water in Hindu mythology is Varuna. Several priests come together for the Varuna Yajna or ritual for Lord Varuna by immersing themselves in water and chanting the name of the Lord 1,000 times. This is believed to appease the Lord who hears the calls of his devotees and makes it rain as respite. In several places, the priests also conduct a full ritual around a sacred fire while immersed in barrels of water.

Animal marriages

A popular custom in Assam and some parts of Maharashtra, a male and female frog are wed with full Hindu rituals to appease the Gods. The newly weds are also raised to the skies for the Gods to have mercy on them and make it rain for their successful mating. Frog marriages are also an annual festival in Assam to usher in a prosperous new year (April 15). In Karnataka, donkeys are wed in the sight of men and gods to bring rain. While the croaking of the frogs does signify oncoming rains, the reason behind the marriage of donkeys is unclear.