A religious tradition of calling rain: A study in the village of Baepam, Udzorong Gewog in Trashigang District of Bhutan

The study was undertaken largely based on primary data collected through inquisitive face to face interview. It was conducted to enlarge and expand the understanding of the system of religious tradition of calling rain which is a unique and distinctive system of local beliefs and practice that is typical to the study of Bhutan's cultural ecology.Bhutan has been blessed with rich natural resources, unique traditional systems and distinctive beliefs. This has stirred the imagination of the world and at the same time exerted profound influence on generations of our people and continues to do so. The treasure of our bio-diversity and the traditional belief system has been the sacred element in the living culture of our country. A set of local beliefs, ideas and practice system specifically related to rain calling, decisively exposes the man-environment relationship within a community. Nevertheless, the study of the knowledge of cultural ecology, perhaps, about the local belief and practice of calling rain in the dry situation is far from complete, although, there are some thin details in few literature of our country.Therefore, this study looked at the perception of, and responses to the traditional beliefs of calling rain and its significance on preservation of the pristine forest. More often in a year, farmers experience dry conditions unlike past. This situation worries the farmers about food production and their livelihood besides affecting the ecosystem. The main findings of the study was that, farmers were resolute to their age old tradition of calling rain without having to anticipate risks and fear related to changing climate all around the globe. Unfavourable weather condition that promises unpredictable and erratic rainfall during the time that is very much needed for the farmers and their fields are seriously attributed to man's mistaken behaviours; will of god and deities.