The Muzrai department has ordered all financially-sound temples under its jurisdiction to perform special rituals on June 6 to invoke divine intervention for rainfall.
In a circular issued on Friday, the department noted that it was necessary to chant the Parjanya Japa - a ritual to invoke Varuna, the god of rain - among other special rituals to steer the state away from the severe drought condition.
“Financially-strong temples under the department are to conduct abhisheka, Parjanya japa, homas and other rituals starting from the Brahmi Muhurta (one-and-a-half hours before sunrise),” the circular states.
The department has asked temples to conduct the rituals at a cost not exceeding Rs 10,001, which is to be borne out of their own funds.
The government has declared 156 of 176 taluks in the state as drought-hit and over 2,000 villages are without water.