Imphal, July 03 2009: To the scientific community it is environmental factors that determine climatic changes including quantum of rainfall but in the religious perspective, atleast to some priests, 'rain god' holds the key to drench the earth.

Accordingly, a group of Manipuri Vaishnavite priests today conducted a rare prayer with the milking of cows before the shrine of the historic Shri Shri Govindajee temple (Palace Compound) and offering the rich protein extract to invoke the 'rain god' in the presence of an impressive number of believers, among whom were the Congress legislator E Kunjeshwor, who is also the Vice President of Govindajee Temple Board.

In the backdrop of the State Government having recently declared Manipur as 'drought affected' and consequently sanctioning an amount of Rs 4.41 crore for irrigation/agriculture-related activities, 18 priests of the Temple Board performed a nearly two hour long ritual, including milking two cows and spraying the milk upwards using manual sprayers.

Contrary to the scientists having already forecast delayed monsoon in India and about 24 hours earlier reports confirming onset of rainy season, Temple Board's supervisor (administration) G kulachandra Sharma said, "Our temple board priests chanted the Vishnu Sharsanam and gopal Sharsanam hymns to call rains and bring about peace in manipur" .

Call it coincidence or mercy of the 'rain god' to distress of not only the farmers but the people of Manipur who had been enduring hardships owing to scant rainfall this year around, pockets of valley districts received mild rainfall for about 20 minutes in the afternoon.

Recounting similar situation Manipur had endured about a decade back and when the then Chief Minister W Nipamacha joined such an offering at the same location, Gokulchandra said, "This is a very rare prayer and we conduct it only in extreme situation like drought.

"when Oja (learned/teacher) Nipamacha was the Chief Minister, he too joined such prayer about a decade back at the temple complex and by God's grace rains came a few days later".

Meanwhile, official sources said normal rainfall usually recorded in Manipur upto June every year used to be about 739.50 mm whereas this year (till June) only 475 mm have been received thereby falling short by 58 percent.

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