Jun 20, 2002 8:49 AM

Tying the Oat Bag

Varuna, the Hindu god of rain, has been unkind to southern India lately, punishing the region with terrible heat and a drought. The townsfolk of Sakkayanayakanur, hoping to appease Varuna, arranged for a ceremonial wedding between two donkeys, the second to be held in the tiny village. What would Varuna find so unusual about seeing an ass in a tuxedo? Wedding albums are full of pictures of guys like that.

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