Hae Nang Maew
ceremony hae nang maew thai แห่นางแมว khmer ពិធីហែនាងម៉ែវ procession lady cat traditional folklore rainmaking ritual cat procession seen cambodia well central northeast thailand time drought may august rainmaking ritual hae nang maew mostly done farmer central northeast region thailand also celebrated cambodia though unclear rite originated whether angkorian civilization century recently lao sisawat siamese cat otherwise black cat selected put bamboo rattan basket covered lid avoid cat escaping cloudcolored black cat preferred thought bring fortune basket hung wooden bamboo pole carried two porter five pair candle five paired flower eldest among ritual performer kick procession asking cat provide rain land procession along musical band walk street village asking bystander pour water cat procession usually take place drought becomes matter concern peasant normally villager begin planting soon rain arrived royal ploughing ceremony early may without rainfall ceremony villager usually decide hold cat parade cat procession lively animated like trot dance musical band consisting drum gong cymbal claves singing varies various location lyric often close ancient tune rain rain come pouring barely year without rain rice die procession still done cambodia thailand curious tradition updated avoid could interpreted animal torture cat notoriously afraid water order avoid animaltorture criticism isan cat sometimes replaced stuffed teddy bear even uttaradit child well parent replace cat dressing tomcat putting makeup impersonate feline villager tamnak tham subdistrict nong muang khai district phrae province make fake cat bamboo frame coconut husk name nong saifon hello kitty doraemon dummy also used replacement according thai anthropologist phraya anuman rajadhon cat dislike wet since olden day associated causing drought lift curse therefore drenched water procession often linked royal ritual name refers cat neang maew princess cat showing place honor given animal carried around form palanquin similar medieval european propitiatory rite kattenstoet hope performing procession would rain cat dog cat outcry event supposed mean rain soon khmer thai people hope rain come day ceremony hae nang maew help build confidence rain brings unification village due required work community