More than 100 women danced naked in a remote mountainous village in Nepal hoping the gods will be pleased and give them rain, a news report said on Tuesday.

The women gathered at a local school, smeared their faces with black powder and danced naked last week at Darbang village, about 280 km west of the capital Kathmandu.

"People in this area believe Mahadev (Hindu god) will be happy and provide rain once women perform such a nude dance," The Kathmandu Post quoted a local teacher as saying.

Weather forecasters said the monsoon rain needed for crops has been delayed in the region this year.