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Agricultural ritual

Agricultural ritual is a class of rituals enacted so as to ensure good harvests, to protect harvests (e.g., from evil spirits or from natural disasters like hail, blight, etc.), or else as thanksgiving for good harvests. 

These rituals may take the form of simple prayers and offerings, but can also involve exorcisms, ransoms, "wheel of protection" rituals, and other ritual actions. In some instances, agriculture rituals are elaborate multiple-day affairs that involve the laity, tantric priests, and monastic communities in multiple rites that include ritual processions in the fields, ransoms, destructive rituals, and other preventive measures. 

For the protection of livestock, see: Animal related ritual.

Subject ID: S1810