Traditional method of rainfall prediction through Almanacs in Ladakh

Abstract

Farmers in Ladakh (North-eastern part of J&K State) are still following the agronomic practices of crop production based on astrological facts of <i style="">Lotho</i> (Tibetan almanac), yet there is no systematic study or very few ever attempted to see the rationality of the ancient knowledge system. Like Indian <i style="">Panchang</i> (the religious calendar), the Tibetan <i style="">Lotho</i> also has a mathematical base for predicting the meteorological occurrences. An attempt has been made through this study to check the rationality of rainfall predictions made in <i style="">lotho</i>. The findings were quite encouraging and the rainfall predictions made in <i style="">lotho</i> were found to be going hand-in-hand with the predictions made by Government meteorological departments through modern techniques and procedures.