Hundreds of villagers revived the traditional cat procession to pray for rain, using cat dolls instead of real cats after a severe drought threatened the rice fields with crop failure.
At 11:00 a.m. on 4 Aug 2026 GMT+7, over 100 villagers from Ban Don Jor, Village No. 6, Kon Chim Subdistrict, Waeng Yai District, Khon Kaen Province, jointly held the cat procession ceremony to request rain following a drought that lasted more than two months. The prolonged dry spell caused rice plants to wither and face widespread risk of dying. This year, cat and Doraemon dolls placed in cages were used instead of real cats. The procession covered over 3 kilometers around the village, with villagers splashing water according to ancient beliefs. They also included swings, fish traps, bamboo fish baskets, and agricultural tools in the parade to pray for rain to relieve their hardships.
Chaiwat Dokmaingam, head of the Kon Chim Subdistrict Administrative Organization, revealed that Waeng Yai District has had almost no rain this year, only occasional light showers insufficient for rice farming. Many farmers sowed rice seeds three times, but the seeds failed to germinate due to dry, hardened soil that prevented growth. They had previously sought assistance from the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department, but operations could not proceed because of unfavorable weather conditions. Waeng Yai relies mainly on rainwater and lacks irrigation systems.
Although August has arrived and many provinces face flooding, Waeng Yai District continues to suffer severe drought. The villagers held the traditional cat procession ceremony alongside seeking government support, hoping that both scientific methods and traditional beliefs will bring rain. Meanwhile, water levels in the Chi River near Ban Chi Tha Wang Wen, Non Thong Subdistrict, are very low, with some stretches completely dry. This affects Waeng Yai District, Waeng Noi District, and areas bordering Chaiyaphum Province. Despite ongoing efforts to implement water management projects, they remain in progress. This area has a unique situation where parts near the Chi River often experience recurrent flooding, while other parts regularly face drought.
Somchid Janthapa, headman of Ban Don Jor, Village No. 6, said villagers are severely troubled and unsure of how to resolve the situation, so they turned to their beliefs. The cat procession ceremony has not been held for decades, but this year everyone is truly affected, hoping the ceremony will bring rain. He also called on all sectors to expedite assistance. Currently, many areas in Khon Kaen Province, including Phon, Waeng Noi, Waeng Yai, Chonnabot districts, and parts of Non Sila District, still suffer drought despite some areas experiencing rain or floods. The cat procession is an ancient Isan tradition believed to bring rain after the ceremony and ritual dance. This time, villagers chose to use dolls instead of real cats, reflecting an adaptation of the tradition to modern times while preserving local beliefs and culture.