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Paper short abstract

Vernacular weather prediction in Assamese culture represents a deep connection with ecological knowledge, oral traditions as well as community practice. As such, mythical wedding of frogs for initiating rain during drought-like conditions was related to decisions on agriculture and ritual practices.

Paper long abstract

Proverbs and riddles are an integral part of folklore and are closely related to Assamese society and culture. It reflects the community’s relationship with land and nature. Behind every folk belief or proverb, there seems to be the cultural characteristics and thoughts of a society.

Vernacular weather prediction in Assamese culture represents a deep connection with ecological knowledge, oral traditions as well as community practice. In the past, people were mostly dependent on environmental signs to anticipate seasonal changes and monsoon patterns like animals and insects’ behaviours, agriculture cycles and different atmospheric conditions. Croaking of frogs before rains, shifting of ants from lower to higher grounds, wedding of frogs for rain during drought-like conditions etc. were related to decisions on agriculture and ritual practices.

"Baisakhe megh uthile aharu nai dukhile"- are among many proverbs, riddles and agriculture songs integrated with weather signs articulating collective experience and act as mnemonic devices transmitting ecological knowledge across generations. The Assamese festival, particularly Bihu, coincides with the vernacular meteorology, integrating weather expectations into cultural performance, offerings and communal celebrations, highlighting the interconnected cosmos between plants, animals and human beings. Despite modern technology, many Assamese continue to rely on vernacular weather predictions till date.

This paper examines the Assamese vernacular weather predictions as a form of intangible cultural heritage that encodes ecological knowledge system and agrarian life. By articulating the practice of frog-wedding, this paper argues that such knowledge systems not only preserve cultural memory but also offer valuable insights into human-nature relationship in uncertainty.