New Delhi: Rain is a harbinger of relief and jubilation worldwide after the lengthy and scorching summer months. Rainfall is indispensable to all life on Earth – it fills our rivers, seas and oceans, recharges underground water and provides water to plants and animals. This vital water cycle component is honoured in many cultures and traditions as a god-sent gift for farmers. Not only does it help improve the air quality, but rain also helps cool the atmosphere in the long run and can prevent disasters like forest fires and droughts. Let us learn more about Rain Day and why it is celebrated.
Why is Rain Day celebrated?
Festivals similar to Rain Day have often been celebrated in different cultures and various parts of the world. It was officially celebrated for the first time in the 1800s.
William Allison, a pharmacist in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, was told by a local farmer that it constantly rained on his birthday, July 29. Following this, Allison started keeping a record of rainfall on July 29. His brother Albert carried on this tradition after his demise.
In the 1830s, local newsman John O’Hara Bega sent stories about Rain Day to other newspapers, which helped increase awareness about the previously localised celebrations. To this day, newspapers and radio stations worldwide contact Waynesburg on July 29 to find out if it is raining in the area.
Rain is an essential source of water that helps maintain life on Earth, providing water and averting disasters (Photo credit: Puneet Vikram Singh/Moment/Getty Images)
How is rain celebrated in different cultures?
Harela, Uttarakhand
A Hindu festival celebrated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, it marks the first day of the monsoons. People plant trees and worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Bun Bang Fai, Thailand
Honouring the God of rain, Phaya Taen, this festival is celebrated with huge processions, dance performances, rice wine and rocket-firing competitions.
Makahiki, Hawaii
This festival in Hawaii honours Lono, the God of rain, fertility, agriculture, music, and peace. It commemorates the Kona storms in the state that bring rain to the leeward areas of the archipelago.
Heaviest rainfall ever recorded
The heaviest rainfall recorded was 184.1 cm in Cilaos, Reunion Island in France, on March 15 and 16, 1952.
In India, the heaviest rainfall was recorded in Amini Devi on the Lakshadweep Islands on May 5 and 6, 2004.
On July 29, Rain Day is celebrated worldwide to recognise and appreciate this natural phenomenon that brings life and joy to all. Read on to learn why rain is important and the day is celebrated. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
