In that Hindu article, there is
[QUOTE]
The Department of Revenue (Muzrai) has issued a circular to 34,000 temples under its control to conduct ‘abhishekha,’ ‘varuna mantra,’ ‘jalabhishekha’ and several other rituals......
The government has sanctioned a maximum of Rs. 5,000 for each temple. This will amount to not less than Rs.17 crore. Temples in the A, B and C categories are expected to conduct the rituals on July 27 and August 2. The circular makes a particular mention of such prominent temples as Kollur Mookambika, Kukke Subrahmanya Swamy, Kateelu Durgaparmeshwari and Nanjangud Srikantheswara Swamy.
It looks like an economic stimulus plan with a win-win strategy for the 2014 elections.
If there is rain, (or not) the castes that believe in the temple/puja things would look kindly upon the ruling parties.
If there is rain, but not sufficiently enough of it, then the ruling junta can blame the opposition for angering the gods to reduce the amount of rain.
If there is no rain, the ruling junta can still claim they had done all they can, and if only the opposition had their traps shut and not put the kibosh on the scheme by bad-mouthing it before it could work.
I know one thing. If there is rain, and plenty of it, then the priests who performed that varuna yagna will get H1B visas to come out here and do the same magic for us (I mean, US) in the next season. We like software people, the softer, the better.