Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 1: With scorching heat continuing to hit the coastal region and not even a hint of rain in sight, the Muslim community gathered in a big numbers at Nehru Maidan here on Sunday May 1 and offered special prayers for rain.

The water crisis in the city has reached a peak with dams drying up fast. The administration is now considering supplying water once in three days.

Seeking divine intervention, hundreds of people from the Muslim community offered special Namaz at Nehru Maidan. The prayer service was organized by South Karnataka Salafi Movement. The special prayer, called Namaz-e-Istisqa, is where the faithful seek forgiveness from God and pray for rains.

Khateeb of Nandavar Salafi Juma Masjid Ahmed Ali Qasimi led the prayers.

In his sermon, the Khateeb stressed on the importance of using water judiciously and not wasting it. "Water is a gift from God but people take it for granted and tend to misuse it. We understand the value of water only when there is scarcity. This special Namaz is offered when there is acute shortage of water and we are desperately in need of rains," he said.

Considerable number of women and children also joined in the prayers.