A breakthrough excavation in the Kurukshetra-Rajasthan corridor has unearthed a series of terracotta tiger figurines inlaid with rare lapis lazuli eyes and stripes. These artifacts, dating back to the late Harappan transition, were found arranged in a circular formation within a communal courtyard, suggesting they served as central icons for a prehistoric monsoon-greeting ceremony.
Evidence of charred botanical remains near the site indicates that specific forest resins were burned during the rituals. Researchers believe these celebrations were designed to invoke the protective spirit of the tiger to ensure the success of the coming rains, marking one of the earliest known links between wildlife worship and seasonal agricultural festivals in the Indian subcontinent.