Prayers in city to propitiate rain god

Seeking the blessings of the rain god, special prayers were offered at temples in different parts of the city on Wednesday.

Members of the Muslim community under the aegis of the South Karnataka Salafi Movement too offered special prayers at Nehru Maidan in the morning. A large number of women too participated in the Namaz.

Maulwi Sheikh Sakib Salim Umri, who delivered a sermon, said, “The creator blesses the Earth by ushering in rain, crop, wind, light and food. When people pray to God with a clean mind, He will bless us.”

M G Mohammed of SKSM said, “Prophet Mohammed had offered special prayers and Namaz when there was severe drought. When injustice on the Earth increases, such natural calamities occur. We have offered a mass prayer to overcome drought.”

Mangaluru City South MLA Vedavyas Kamath was present while offering the special prayer.

The MLA offered prayers at the Mangaladevi Temple, seeking blessings of the goddess to get rain in order to solve the drinking water crisis. He also offered prayers at Sri Brahmabaidarkala Garodi at Kankanady.

Speaking on the occasion, Kamath said, “Whenever the city faced water crisis, our forefathers had sought the blessings of the Almighty. I am confident that the goddess will shower blessings on the city.”

Prayers were similarly offered at Kadri Manjunatha Temple; Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple; Kudupu Temple; Ganapathi Temple, Urwa Store; Urwa Marigudi Temple; Mukhyaprana Temple, Bolara; Panchalingeshwara Temple, Pandeshwara; Venkatramana Temple, Car Street; Mukhyaprana Temple, Bajilkeri; Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple; Sooryanarayana Temple, Maroli; and Gopalakrishna Temple,
Shaktinagara; and other temples.