PHICHIT, July 10 (TNA) – A doll of famous Japanese
cartoon cat character Doraemon is used in a traditional ritual praying for rain
by a farmer community in Thailand’s Phichit province.
Farmers from 10 villages facing a month-long drought joined
the ceremony that conventionally brings caged live female cat to a procession.
To abide by a law against animal cruelty effective since
mid-2015, they opted to use Doraemon doll to pray for rain. Residents splashed water onto the doll and
people as the parade passed by their houses.
Other elements of the ancient ritual were maintained
including lively musical band.
Rice farmers in unirrigated areas of Phichit have been hit
by severe drought. 
It is not the first time Thai farmers used Doraemon to save
the day in a parade ritual; many other communities have performed parades,
featuring blue cat dolls circling around the villages.(TNA)
