Police in India are investigating an incident whereby at least six girls were paraded naked by locals in a village of Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district in a bid to bring rain.
The girls believed to be about five years of age were made to walk naked in a ritual that was meant to please the gods of rain so that Baniya village can be relieved from drought.
Videos shared widely in social media show the girls walking with a wooden shaft tied with a frog on their shoulders.
The girls are followed by women singing bhajans, songs meant to please the gods.
In another video, the women are heard telling the person who recorded the video that the ritual will bring rains.
“We believe that this will bring in rains,” the women said.
They also said that they will collect raw food grain from villagers during the procession and then cook food for ‘bhandara’ (group feast) at a local temple.
Following the incident believed to have occurred on Sunday, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sought for a report from Damoh district administration.
A district official said a response will be submitted to the NCPCR.
Damoh superintendent of police DR Teniwar said the police received the information that some young girls were paraded naked to appease the God of rains as part of a local practice and prevailing social evils.
“Police are investigating this incident. Action will be taken if it is found that girls were forced to go naked,” he said.
According to police there is no official complaint that has been filed regarding the incident.
“In such cases, the administration can only make the villagers aware about the futility of such superstition and make them understand that such practices don’t yield desired results,” said the Damoh collector S Krishna Chaitanya.
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