Women Dance Naked for Rain
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 6:41 am
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Hundreds of Australian women danced naked at a secluded location amid drought-ravaged farmland on Sunday in a ritual intended to bring rain.
Organizers from the small town of Ouyen in far northwest Victoria state said up to 500 women danced and chanted in a ceremony inspired by a Nepali drought-breaking tradition.
"We are all pretty positive that it is going to work and the community here has got behind it just so well," organizing committee chairwoman Lynne Healy told Reuters. "We are expecting rain within the next few days, or a week anyway."
The dance was held alongside regional family day festivities, with the women taken by buses to the secret location to complete the dance either naked or partially clothed, in sarongs.
"It has been a great day for community connectedness and positive mental health for people in drought-affected areas, and that was one of the reasons behind it too," Healy said.
Rain fell in the region last week, following a rehearsal dance, but farmers need more in the next few months to let them plant crops. :o :o :o
Organizers from the small town of Ouyen in far northwest Victoria state said up to 500 women danced and chanted in a ceremony inspired by a Nepali drought-breaking tradition.
"We are all pretty positive that it is going to work and the community here has got behind it just so well," organizing committee chairwoman Lynne Healy told Reuters. "We are expecting rain within the next few days, or a week anyway."
The dance was held alongside regional family day festivities, with the women taken by buses to the secret location to complete the dance either naked or partially clothed, in sarongs.
"It has been a great day for community connectedness and positive mental health for people in drought-affected areas, and that was one of the reasons behind it too," Healy said.
Rain fell in the region last week, following a rehearsal dance, but farmers need more in the next few months to let them plant crops. :o :o :o
