A rain prayer ceremony was recently held in the Gangneung area, which has been suffering from a severe drought.
According to Korea Rural Community Corporation on August 23, the water storage rate of Obong Reservoir, the main water source for the Gangneung region, stood at 18.3%, which is only 26.8% of the average level (68.3%). As of now, the number of days the Obong Reservoir can be used is just 22.
On the 23rd, the Gangneung Dano Festival Preservation Society held a rain prayer ceremony at Daegwallyeongsansindang and Daegwallyeong Guksaseonghwangsa in Hoenggye-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province. Photo by Yonhap News
Since August 20, Gangneung City has implemented restricted water supply measures, locking household water meters by unit. With no significant rainfall forecast for the time being, there are growing concerns about severe disruptions in the supply of both domestic and agricultural water. If the Obong Reservoir's storage rate drops to 15%, the city plans to further restrict water supply by locking 75% of water meters and suspend the supply of agricultural water as well.
In response, the Gangneung Dano Festival Preservation Society held a rain prayer ceremony at Daegwallyeongsansindang and Daegwallyeong Guksaseonghwangsa in Hoenggye-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province. With a sincere wish to resolve the drought, they prayed to the Daegwallyeong Mountain Spirit and Daegwallyeong Guksaseonghwang Spirit for rain.
The ceremony was attended by Choi Jongbong, President of the Gangneung City Prosperity Association, as the chief officiant; Choi Jongwon, President of the Gangneung City Village Leaders Association, as the second officiant; and Shim Osub, traditional education instructor of the Gangneung Dano Festival Preservation Society, as the third officiant. After the rain prayer ceremony, Bin Sunae, President of the Gangneung Dano Festival Preservation Society, performed a shamanistic ritual.
On the 23rd, the Gangneung Dano Festival Preservation Society held a rain prayer ceremony at Daegwallyeongsansindang and Daegwallyeong Guksaseonghwangsa in Hoenggye-ri, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province. Photo by Yonhap News
President Bin stated, "Every year, we have prayed for the well-being of citizens and for good fishing and harvests through the Dano gut and other rituals, but this year, the heat and drought have been especially severe, raising concerns about water shortages. I was worried that citizens might not be able to use water freely, so I earnestly prayed to the heavens and earth to bring rain."
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