Residents performed the traditional ritual to seek Lord Indra’s blessings as several districts in Madhya Pradesh continue to receive below-normal rainfall.
July 19, 2026: In a unique ritual to pray for rainfall, residents in Bhopal fed gulab jamuns to donkeys on Saturday, seeking the blessings of Lord Indra for a stronger monsoon in Madhya Pradesh. The ceremony was held on Kolar Road, where participants offered prayers and performed traditional rituals, saying the practice was meant to invoke good rains across the state.
The event comes even as Bhopal has recorded surplus rainfall this monsoon. According to senior meteorologist S.N. Sahu of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city has received 400.3 mm of rainfall since the onset of the season, around 44 per cent above normal. He also said a fresh spell of rain is expected to begin across Madhya Pradesh from Sunday.
Despite the healthy rainfall in the state capital, official data shows that 35 districts of Madhya Pradesh are still facing below-normal rainfall. Authorities hope the forecast showers will help reduce the rainfall deficit and improve conditions in the affected regions.