Marrying the hope of rain!

With a dry spell threatening to cast its shadow on the months ahead, making it difficult for the people to eke out a living, people are seeking to invoke gods’ intervention to change the weather.

At a colony inhabited by Dalits here, people performed mock marriage of two boys, dressing them up as bride and groom. ‘Maavana Habba’, as it is called in the region, is popular among certain communities since time immemorial, who often resort to this practice when rains fail, or are delayed for whatever reason.

The colony is known for preserving folklore and related oral literature. The mock marriage and ‘maavana habba’ is often celebrated in the region. Before setting off on marriage, the villagers go over every aspect of marriage — just the way it is done in real life. A rather comic discussion among elders was held, where the marriage was discussed, along with crucial aspects such as dowry and expenses. However, on a serious note, the meeting concluded with the members sending out a social message opposing the dowry system, and also marriage turning into a transaction as a result of this.

With members closing the meeting hoping for copious rains, they didn’t forget to add that the dowry menace has to be eradicated from the society. Dasappa of the village turned the priest for the wedding, and all the rituals followed were true to life. A reception ceremony was also held with the bride and groom offering gifts to each other.

The mock wedding ceremony, replete with rituals and social do’s, also had men and women comically criticise each other using ‘sobane pada’ — songs based in folk, often witty and rhythmic and sung on auspicious occasions, to keep the humour. Foot-tapping folk music had everyone dancing under the open sky and cheering each others. Feast of a lunch was prepared in everyone’s house, with families savouring them at leisure. Some were confident that the clouds would turn grey and heavy soon, and bring rains. Others hoped it would turn into a reality soon!