National Post – Aug. 12, 2010
Frog marriages arranged in bid to bring on monsoon rains in Bangladesh
Agence France-Presse
Farmers in a parched district of northern Bangladesh are marrying off frogs in a desperate bid to bring on monsoon rains and protect their crops. The country suffered its driest July in decades, prompting farmers to turn to the centuries-old rainmaking ritual, pictured. “There have been lot of frog marriages as there has been hardly any rainfall here even though it’s monsoon season,” said an official. At one of the ceremonies, 300 villagers dressed in their best clothes attended the festivities, said Tajul Islam, who was at the wedding. Monsoon rains normally sweep Bangladesh from June to September, with the country receiving more than 75% of its annual rainfall during this period.