Click to play videoSirsi (Bihar): Bamboo trees burst into flower, scatter their seeds, then wither and die in a few months - this mysterious flowering happens once in 48 years and is one of the wonders of the natural world.
But for the residents of Sirsi village, it is a sign of impending disaster about to strike the village.
The bamboo trees in the village have started sprouting flowers, which according to many is a flowering of ill omen. The villagers are worried and are trying their best to please the bamboo gods.
"We're praying so that we are saved from a disaster," said a resident of Sirsi, Pratima Devi.
While women perform a puja to drive a possible plague away, men try and get rid of the bamboo trees.
"Generations are ruined, if this disease affects a tree," said another resident, Jai Prakash.
Villagers fear a famine or a plague is on its way. But their fears may not be entirely unfounded. The exact link between bamboo flowers and rats is still not known. But some experts believe when bamboo flowers turn to fruit, rats feast on the protein-rich seeds.
The rats then grow in number and attack the farmers' crops and might finally trigger a famine. The number of rats has also suddenly increased in Sirsi and villagers don't think it's a coincidence.
"Rats have started eating up our crops since bamboo trees started sprouting flowers," said a villager, Dilip Kumar.
The sudden flowering of the bamboo tree, a rare phenomenon, is called mautam in Mizoram. It has reportedly caused a number of famines in the past.
However, experts say the government needs to come out and help the villagers and prevent the disaster.
"The government must ensure that mautam doesn't happen here," said Social Scientist, Sahwal Gupta.
Meanwhile, the families who are living on the edge because of their destroyed crops are hopeful that prosperity is just round the corner. They have all come together to ward off mautam and the ill luck that it brings along.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.