Isan people know that drought is caused by weather change. They also believe that it happens when a lot of people or those in governing positions do not adhere to moralistic codes. The god are displeased with this, so the god refuse to let the rain fall in the rainy season. So when things have gone wrong, it is necessary to ask for the god’ mercy by holding a ceremony.
A cat has a very important role in this ceremony, because of the fact that it dislikes water. When a cat gets wet, it will roar and then the rain will fall So the rain summoning tradition stemmed from this old belief that if a cat is to get wet by being spashed with water, its cry is related to pleading for the clouds to break. In the rain-making ceremony Isan people make a pleading by reciting rain-making verses known as “ hae nang maew”, literally meaning the parading of a female cat.