Thailand is an agricultural country. Most Thai people in the rural areas grow crops especially rice for a living. Their fate inevitably depends on the timely rainfall that will assure a bumper crop. As a result, there are several festivals and ceremonies associated with the harvest, the rain and the god of rain. Among them, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony is the most important one.
As the farmers will greatly suffer if there is drought, they turn to have faith in religious beliefs that can alleviate their worry, raise their hopes and give inspiration to them. As the climate of the north, northeast and central regions of Thailand is normally dry in the cool and the hot seasons, ceremonies of praying for rainfall are held in these regions.
The followings are stories about two traditions and two festivals which are normally held in the rainy season.