8, November 2025

Bridging Tradition and Modernity: Indigenous Methods of Rainfall Prediction and their Relevance in Contemporary Climate Adaptation

VOLUME-11; ISSUE-11; NOV-2025

Author(s): Savitri Patidar, Sandhya Pathania

Authors Affiliations:

1Associate Professor (Geography) Government Meera Girls College, Udaipur (Rajasthan)

2Professor (Geography), Government Meera Girls College, Udaipur (Rajasthan)

DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202511001     |     Paper ID: IJIRMF202511001


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For centuries, communities in Rajasthan and across India have relied on indigenous methods of weather forecasting, rooted in careful ecological observation. Animal behaviour such as camels drinking more water, peacocks dancing before rain, frogs croaking intensely, dogs rolling on the ground, or ants shifting their nests to higher ground has long been used as a predictive tool. Likewise, plant indicators such as the flowering of the Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), sudden blooming of bamboo, glossiness of neem leaves, early shedding of peepal leaves, or the unusual flowering of Acacia, Ber, and Madhuca (mahua) trees have been linked to monsoon onset. Celestial and atmospheric cues, including changes in wind direction, cloud formations, lightning intensity, thunder sound, halos around the moon, and the appearance of certain stars and constellations, further enriched these forecasting systems.

This paper employs a qualitative methodology, drawing upon ethnographic accounts, regional case studies, and secondary literature, to document and analyze indigenous rainfall prediction practices in Rajasthan and other parts of India. It also explores the decline of these practices due to modernization, migration, and climate change, even as rural and tribal communities such as the Bishnois, Bhils, and Gonds still rely on them. While modern meteorology through satellites, Doppler radar, and predictive models has improved large-scale accuracy, it often fails to capture the micro-level variations that traditional systems provide.

The study argues for an integrative framework that combines indigenous ecological wisdom with modern science to create resilient, sustainable, and locally meaningful forecasting systems. Such hybrid approaches can enhance India’s adaptive capacity in the face of climate change while preserving the ecological and cultural heritage of its communities.

Indigenous knowledge, Rajasthan, Thar Desert, Water scarcity, Plant and animal indicators, Climate change adaptation, Hybrid forecasting

Savitri Patidar,  Sandhya Pathania  (2025); Bridging Tradition and Modernity: Indigenous Methods of Rainfall Prediction and their Relevance in Contemporary Climate Adaptation, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-11, Issue-11, Pp. 1-7.         Available on –   https://www.ijirmf.com/

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  1. Mishra, R. K. (2010). Traditional Knowledge Systems in Rajasthan: A Cultural-Ecological Perspective. Jaipur: Rawat Publications.
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  1. Baviskar, A. (1997). In the Belly of the River: Tribal Conflicts over Development in the Narmada Valley. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
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