New Delhi: In a village in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh, about six minor girls were roamed naked. An official told PTI that this was part of a ritual which villagers believe would appease the rain god and bring relief from the drought-like situation.
Two videos of the incident have also surfaced, with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) writing to the District Collector of Damoh seeking action taken report and age certificates of the girls within 10 days.
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The incident is from Bania village, about 50 km from Damoh district headquarters of Bundelkhand region on Sunday. Damoh Superintendent of Police DR Teniwar said that the police had received information that some young girls were paraded naked to please the rain god as per the local custom and prevailing social evils.
According to religious beliefs, young girls are made to walk naked along a wooden shaft with a frog tied on its shoulder. He said that the women accompanying these girls sing hymns to praise the rain god.
“Police is probing the incident. Action will be taken if it is found that girls are forced to pose naked,” he said, adding that villagers believe that the practice resulted in rain. Might be possible.
Damoh Collector S Krishna Chaitanya said that the local administration will submit a report in this regard to the NCPCR. He said that the parents were also involved in this ritual and they would be made aware against indulging in such superstitions.
The District Collector said that since no villager has complained about this ritual.
“In such cases, the administration can only make the villagers aware of the futility of such superstition and make them understand that such practices do not yield the desired results,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.
In a video, the girls, believed to be around five years old, are seen walking shoulder to shoulder along a wooden shaft tied with a frog on the shoulder without clothes, reports PTI. This. Whereas, a group of women singing hymns follows the procession.
In another video, some women can be heard saying that the ritual is being performed as the paddy crop dries up in the absence of rain.
“We believe it will rain,” he can be heard saying to the person recording the incident.
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