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00:00Haenang Maew or the Cat Parade is an old Thai ritual believed to bring rain, especially in farming communities.
00:07This tradition is found mainly in certain parts of Thailand, particularly in areas influenced by Cambodian culture.
00:15The beliefs come from the idea that cats have a special connection to rain.
00:19People noticed that cats cry loudly when they get wet, and this was linked to how dark clouds often gather before a storm.
00:27Some believed the cat energies could help summon rain while others thought its cries mimicked the call of thunder.
00:33In the past, when farmers faced drought, they would carry a female cat called Nang Maew in a procession, singing and asking the rain gods for water.
00:43The cat would be gently sprinkled with water, forcing it to cry out, symbolizing a plea for rain.
00:48Today, the tradition continues, but many places use a statue or picture of a cat instead.