Tribals sacrifice buffalo as Diwali celebration to predict crop output

Alirajpur: Keeping with their Diwali tradition, tribal farmers here sacrificed a he-buffalo on a hill in adjoining Jhabua district to predict quantum of crop next year and to “propitiate” rain gods.

“We have been practising slaughtering of bovine on Diwali for many years to know about the next year’s rainfall and crop produce. And sticking to it, we killed the animal on Baba-Dungar-ki-Pahari at Chhui village under Ranapur police station area,” a local, Ann Singh said.

He said the tribals believe that if head of the he-buffalo rolls down to ground without any hurdle it is a good omen for bountiful rainfall and crop.

“Head of the bovine did not fall on ground as got stuck midway in last year’s Diwali ritual, and it did not rain adequately in the country,” Singh said.