Khatola Tribune

Now, now. I wouldn’t call them “arch enemies”.

In a strange ritual in Koodalur Koundanpalayam on the city outskirts, arch enemies cat and rat are kept in a pot which is buried for 45 minutes to know what is in store for future with regard to communal harmony and peace.

…
The pit would be covered with a thick mat made of bamboo sticks and more than 10 bulls, adorned with silk clothes and flowers would be brought, again in a procession, and made to pass on it for nearly 45 minutes, amidst singing of hymns and ‘mantras’ by hundreds of devotees, the villagers said.

After the custom, the pot would be removed and taken to the house of the trustee who will open and announce the ‘result’ whether both the animals are ‘in tact.’

Sometimes, though, you find a dead cat and a rat doing cartwheels. Oh well.

Wonder if they will try putting Thakre in there?

When harmony’s cat and mouse game — The Times of India

I trust you have heard the one about the agnostic dyslexic insomniac who stayed up pondering the existence of Dog. It turns out that there is a kennel of truth behind that tale. Welcome to Betul, where they are not nearly as agnostic as they are dyslexic.

On any day, people can be seen burning incense sticks and offering flowers and coconuts at the dog memorial located in the premises of the district collector’s office.

“Whenever somebody in my family falls sick, I visit the memorial and offer flowers and coconut,” said Usha Jaiswal, who lives near the collector’s office.

This town worships the dog, not a God - Newindpress.com