Madurai, June 24: As Tamil Nadu is reeling under worst water crisis, the Muslim community in the Madurai district on Monday offered a special Namaz for earlier monsoon showers in the state. The devotees are also observing a fast. The state is water-starved as the majority of the lakes and water resources are dry due to less rain in 2018 and delay in monsoon this year. Tamil Nadu Water Crisis: Chennai Residents Struggle With Irregular Water Supply Through Tankers, State Govt Seeks Centre's Help.

On Sunday, state Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani visited Church and Dargah in Coimbatore and offered prayers, seeking divine intervention for heavy rains. Velumani visited Hazarat Musa Avulia Dargah and St Mark's Church in the city. Speaking to reporters, he said that the state is facing acute water shortage and groundwater has plummeted at many places. Chennai Water Crisis: DMK Holds Protest Against Tamil Nadu Government; Stalin, Dayanidhi Maran Join Protesters.

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On Saturday, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) performed special yagnas in temples across the states to appease the rain god. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar also took part in a 'yagna' at a Shiva temple in Chennai and planed a sapling in the shrine. The AIADMK leaders including senior Tamil Nadu ministers - Sellur K Raju, Sengottaiyan, and Madurai North MLA V V Rajan Chellappa - performed pujas at temples in the state. Water Crisis Deepens in Tamil Nadu, Soaring Temp Adds to Woes.

In a similar move from Uttar Pradesh, women in Kanpur's Gopalpur village performed special prayers and ploughed the land for rain. "We are ploughing the land for rain, this custom exists since the time of Raja Janak. It is believed that if we plough the land Indradev (Rain God) will be pleased and it will rain," she said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2019 01:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).