Villagers Parade with Doraemon to Beg for Rain

NAKHON SAWAN, April 30 (TNA) - Residents in the central province of Nakhon Sawan, enduring both heat and drought this year, have gathered to parade a Doraemon doll to request rain. 

The scorching weather and prolonged absence of rain have prompted over 200 villagers in Phayuha Khiri District, Nakhon Sawan to come together for a rain-invoking ceremony based on their local beliefs. 

But surprisingly, instead of using real cats like in previous years, this year they've opted for a Doraemon doll and a white cat doll borrowed from children in the village. These dolls were placed in cages adorned with marigold garlands, resembling the traditional use of real cats in rain-invoking rituals.

The atmosphere was lively as villagers paraded the Doraemon doll around all three villages, singing and dancing to rain-invoking songs. According to tradition, as the procession passes through each house, residents donate rice husks and water to contribute to the fertility of crops and abundant water supply. Some households even splashed water, including onto the cats.

The village headman Pongphan Kerdkham mentioned that the tradition of parading a cat figure had been absent for 10 years, but due to the prolonged drought this year, affecting crops such as rice, sugarcane, and cassava, they decided to revive the tradition to boost morale within the community. 

Due to the scorching weather conditions, they opted for Doraemon dolls instead of real cats and chose to perform the ceremony in the evening.

However, according to the provincial meteorological department, there's a forecast of thunderstorms from May 1 to May 4, covering 10-20% of the area, which is expected to alleviate the extreme heat in the province.

Traditionally, the chosen cats for such ceremonies are Korat cats with silver blue fur, although in some areas black cats are used. The reason for selecting silver blue cats is the belief that their fur resembles clouds, which may bring rain. 

This observation stems from the belief that cats, being creatures averse to water, symbolize dryness. When the cats are sprayed with water, it is believed that dryness will be averted. -819 (TNA)