In Jharkhand,where agriculture was dependent on the Rain God,farmers,especially tribals,were dependent on Him.

No wonder why they worshiped and prayed for the normal monsoon season this year.Now when the Met Department has predicted nearly hundred percent rain during the monsoon period(June-September),tribals and non tribal farmers were praying for it.

Also,toward the same end,they are celebrating their annual festival-Manda.Traditionally,Manda takes place primarily in and around 100 km radius of Ranchi, especially in villages where the majority of farmers belong to Munda and Oraon tribes.

A month before the monsoon is slated to bring rain,the traditional festival of the tribals are being celebrated with undaunted belief and maintaining its originality.

At the Argora ground,this festival was celebrated with an aim to appease the Sun God and pray for rain during the hot and dry month of May.

"In tribal society there is belief that Lord Shiva fulfills the desire of those people, who participate in the Manda festival",said Sundra Munda,a school teacher.

During this festival,many processions are brought out from the premises of the temple of Lord Shiva and taken to other villages. Farmers lie with sticks outside Shiva temple, as they wait for blessings from the main priest of the temple on a hot afternoon during the holy procession of Manda Festival.

www.jharkhandstatenews.com in a random survey found that hundreds of tribals in Ranchi participated in this annual festival for good farming, prosperity and good health on May 10-12.