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Namaz, mahayajna to appease rain gods

Lucknow, July 17
Though the monsoon has failed to keep its date with Uttar Pradesh, the common man has not yet lost hope.

Muslims and Hindus today performed special prayers in various parts of the state capital to appease the rain gods. A mosque in the Chowk area yesterday hosted two special prayers (ishsqa) to ward off calamity.

Tomorrow, the famous Tile-wali masjid will host yet another “namaz” to invoke rain to pour as benediction on the parched land.

In the state capital’s commercial centre of Gole Market, several traders performed a “mahayajna” to appease Lord Indra. Over 5001 “aahutis” were made during the programme.

Meanwhile, reports from various other districts said people had been resorting to several methods to appease the rain gods.

In Mainpuri, women took over from their menfolk and ploughed the fields under the scorching sun. A 30-year-old woman sat on the middle of the road to perform puja for the purpose. A group of eunuchs also performed puja in the nearly barren fields of Mirzapur district. The locals had requested them to perform prayers for them.

Sowing of paddy has been affected in 58 lakh hectares while nursery of paddy has dried up with not a friendly drop in the majority 42 of the total 70 districts.

A last-ditch effort at sowing a late variety of paddy failed when the monsoon failed to arrive even in the first week of July and now with the rains expected in the last week of July, farmers are now hoping against hope that a late variety of Kharif crops survives.

With tiny tots in schools, worried parents have demanded a break of a fortnight for the kids due to the sweltering heat.

However, the weatherman remains hopeful. According to the Met office here, monsoon is expected to arrive in most parts of the state by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, the state government is all set to announce the state as “drought-hit” within a week due to the delay in the monsoon which has hit the kharif crops.

A decision to this effect would be taken after Chief Minister Mayawati goes through reports sought from the districts on the drought situation. UNI

Weatherman sees rain in 2 days

Chandigarh, July 17
Some parts of Chandigarh and adjoining Panchkula received light showers this afternoon. “This is a positive indication that moisture flow over the area has increased and we can expect widespread rainfall in the region over the next two days.” Director of the Meteorological Department SC Bhan told PTI.

He said the monsoon trough, which had earlier shifted closer to the Himalayas, causing heavy rainfall in the areas closer to it, was now once again shifting southwards. Easterly winds will also help in circulating the moisture inflow, he said.

“Signals are positive towards activation of monsoon, which had gone weak some days back. We can expect more moisture-laden clouds over the area in the next few days that will bring rain,” he said. PTI