A 10-year- old girl has been sitting on fast for the last six days in Agra to appease rain god as large parts of north India await monsoon.
Villagers say Suman is on fast since she dreamt of a goddess who commanded her to undertake a fast to appease Indra, the rain god.
"The girl says that she will not get up until it rains. She will not get up, no matter how much problems she faces," said a villager, Satpal.
People from neighbouring areas have been thronging Agra to have a glimpse of the girl and seek her blessings.
Meanwhile in northern Kanpur city, women ploughed fields as part of an old tradition to please the Hindu god of rain, Indra.
"This is an old tradition when women plough the fields the gods are pleased and bless us with adequate rainfall. That is why all of us have gathered here and ploughed the fields hoping to please the god," said a woman, Chanda.
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Monsoon has eluded northern India so far with scattered rains in some regions.
The monsoon has covered most of south, west and eastern India.
The meteorological department has predicted rainfall over northern India this week.
The annual monsoon season is vital for India as half its cropland lacks irrigation. The farm sector accounts for 15 percent of India's economy.