On May 10th, reports surfaced about a shocking incident involving the beloved Japanese character Doraemon that caught the attention of the online community:
He was confined in a small cage, paraded around by several men, while the background echoed with cheers from the crowd.
According to Thai media, the northern province of Nan in Thailand has been experiencing scorching drought conditions. In response, some farmers have turned to a long-standing mystical practice known as "Hae nang maew," or "Cat Rain Ritual."
When faced with dry weather, certain Thai villages would conduct this ritual, which involves a simple process: a cat is placed in a bamboo basket or cage, lifted by individuals, and then paraded from house to house.
During the procession, participants chant slogans and continuously pour water on the cat in the cage until it is completely soaked.
While the specific details of "Hae nang maew" may vary across regions, the central theme remains the same - wetting the cat.
The underlying belief is that a cat's meowing is linked to rainfall - the cat, which dislikes dampness and symbolizes drought, will meow when drenched by rain, indicating that rain is imminent.
However, amidst growing animal welfare concerns, people have started to realize the potential animal cruelty involved in this practice. Thus, faced with a clash between new ideas and old traditions, local villagers gathered to discuss and opted for a more peaceful compromise: a robotic Doraemon stand-in.
They placed a Doraemon doll in the cage, adorned with garlands, and paraded it through the village.
Participants sang and danced, showering water over the Doraemon doll.
After the ritual concluded, details of the event quickly spread online, generating significant attention.
In the past decade, the ritual has gradually become less stringent. To prevent harm to innocent cats during the ceremony, many regions now use dolls as substitutes.
For instance, the waving lucky cat and even the talking Tom cat have made temporary appearances. Regardless of the choice of doll for the "rain prayer ceremony," the atmosphere is always lively with singing and dancing.
