<p>Scanty rainfall in July has upset farmers who were hopeful of a normal monsoon this time after facing two consecutive drought years. Hence, the ritual. <br /><br />According to Shanti Devi, a farmer's wife, men are not allowed to visit the fields when women plough. "In fact, men are prohibited to watch them in fields," she said.<br /><br />The ritual, known as Harparauri, is being performed in villages like Chanda and Simri. "It is an age-old ritual, performed when rain gods are angry," said Saneev Singh, a farmer of a village in Chakki block.<br /><br />"It is a belief that the ritual would turn rain gods happy, leading to heavy rains, which is essential for bumper crops," Singh said.<br /><br />Another farmer, Prabhu Tiwari, said that "farmers are worried and a repeat of a drought-like situation is haunting them". He said that women have vowed to continue the ritual until it rains very heavily.<br /><br />In Bihar, only men are known to plough fields, symbolising hard work.<br />The state has recorded 441 mm rainfall since June 1 against the season's average of 462 mm. "The rainfall is five percent less than normal," state Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh said.<br /><br />Last year, the Bihar government declared all the 38 districts drought-hit due to a rainfall deficit of nearly 22 percent. In 2009 as well, the government declared 26 districts drought-hit.</p>
<p>Scanty rainfall in July has upset farmers who were hopeful of a normal monsoon this time after facing two consecutive drought years. Hence, the ritual. <br /><br />According to Shanti Devi, a farmer's wife, men are not allowed to visit the fields when women plough. "In fact, men are prohibited to watch them in fields," she said.<br /><br />The ritual, known as Harparauri, is being performed in villages like Chanda and Simri. "It is an age-old ritual, performed when rain gods are angry," said Saneev Singh, a farmer of a village in Chakki block.<br /><br />"It is a belief that the ritual would turn rain gods happy, leading to heavy rains, which is essential for bumper crops," Singh said.<br /><br />Another farmer, Prabhu Tiwari, said that "farmers are worried and a repeat of a drought-like situation is haunting them". He said that women have vowed to continue the ritual until it rains very heavily.<br /><br />In Bihar, only men are known to plough fields, symbolising hard work.<br />The state has recorded 441 mm rainfall since June 1 against the season's average of 462 mm. "The rainfall is five percent less than normal," state Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh said.<br /><br />Last year, the Bihar government declared all the 38 districts drought-hit due to a rainfall deficit of nearly 22 percent. In 2009 as well, the government declared 26 districts drought-hit.</p>