The Thai society is predominantly an agrarian one.
Rain plays an essential role in the cultivation of rice and other staple crops.
Thai farmers believe that rain is a gift from the deities up above.
When it fails to fall in the monsoon season, crops suffer from drought.
Crop yields are affected.
So a ceremony to ask for rain from the deities must be held.
Isan people know that drought is caused by weather changes.
A cat has a very important role in this ceremony, because of the fact that it dislikes water.
So the rain summoning tradition stemmed from this old belief.
In the rain-making ceremony Isan people by reciting rain-making verses known as “tao mae nang maew” or “ hae nang maew”, literally meaning the parading of a female cat.
They start by picking 1-3 Sisawat Siamese cats and putting them in a bamboo or rattan basket which has a cover.
Cloud-colored cats or black cats are preferable, believed to be good luck ones.
A wooden pole carried at each end by 1 man is used to carry the basket with the cats in it.
Other things needed are five pairs of candles and 5 paired flowers.
Before putting the cat (nang maew)in the cage, the eldest among the ritual performers will say to the cats, “Nang Maew, may you pray for the rain to come”.
The cat is adorned around its neck with some accessories. It is then paraded through the village.
As the parade moves along through the village, some elderly folks begin reciting the rain-making verses. Other fellows in the parade repeat after them. The cat basket is carried right in front of the procession, followed by the group of verse reciters. The others noisily and joyfully join. They sing and dance to the music of a traditional band, and drums and gongs. When the parade passes by any house, the people come out to welcome them and to throw or pour water on the cat. The angry cat miaws. Some just throw water at the paraders and not the cat.
As the procession advances from house to house, they all sing the hae nang maew song. The lyrics can be different in different places. In some, even obscene words are heard. As the procession passes by, the people cheer and throw some water, using handled bowls, onto the nang maew basket. They give treats to the paraders – liquors, cooked food, hard boiled eggs, or other goodies. Small tips are also given to the ones carrying the ceremonial trays and leading the parade. The parade soon moves on through the whole village, then comes back to the starting place. They lavish in more food and enjoy the loud joyous party. The cat is released. But if the next day it still does not rain, they will do the hae nang maew again, and again the next day, until rain finally comes.