It is almost  one month to the onset of South West Monsoon over Andhra Pradesh but there is no sign of rains as empty clouds are hanging around with yielding any rains.

As the state recorded a huge deficit of more than 50% deficit in the rain fall in the month of June, serious crisis is looming large on the horizon and specter of drought is staring at the state.

Text: Mohammed Siddique in Hyderabad

Worried over the fall out specially on the agriculture sector and rural economy, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has called upon followers of all the religions to offer special prayers.

A three-day-long "Ashtottara Shatkaunda Maha Varuna Yagam" organized by the Tirumala Tirupati Devsthanam is currently on at the sprawling exhibition grounds in Hyderabad.

With fires burning intensely in 108 Agnikundas or fire pits, a team of 150 Pundits were chanting mantras to propitiate Varuna, the Rain God.

Inaugurating the Yagam, CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy exuded confidence that the Gods would respond to the prayers and the difficulties of the state would be over soon. "Last year too, we had conducted the yagnam and state got bountiful rain and agriculture production was doubled", he recalled asking people not to worry.

TTD Chairman Adikeshavulu Naidu said that yagnam was continuation of the traditions of thousands of years as emperors and kings also conducted the Varuna yagnam. "It is not only for rains but also to put an end to all the difficulties and sufferings of the entire mankind. The water is lifeline for the people and through this yagya we are praying for the rains".

CIS Narasimha Dikshutulu, the Maha Archaka of the Tirumala temple, who was leading the prayers under a huge pandal said, "when the sins like the killing of women and children increase, God leaves the place. We don't get his blessings and drought is set upon us. We are trying to propitiate the God and we are confident that God will bless us with rains", he said.

The TTD has also organized the yagnam at a thousand temples across the state.

Meanwhile Muslims, the second biggest religious group in the state, were also conducting special prayers seeking the rains. Thousands of Muslims offered Namaz-e-Istesqa at the sprawling Mir Alam Idgah in Hyderabad. Respected religious figure Maulana Mufti Khaleel Ahmad, leading the tearful prayers called upon the people to confess their sins and crimes before God and seek his blessings. "Only seeking forgiveness can save us from the wrath of Allah. Lack of rains is a punishment of God and animals and other living creatures are made to suffer because of the sins of human beings", he said.

The Maulana prayed for bountiful and beneficial rains and not the rains which cause havoc and damage to the life and the property. "Only Allah's mercy can save us in this difficult situation", he said.

The member of Parliament from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi and state minister for minority welfare, Mohammed Ahmadullah attended the prayers.

The interesting thing about the special prayers was that while in the routine Dua or solicitation people extended their hands palms up towards the sky. But in this special prayers the palms faced the ground as worshippers shed tears crying for help . "This is to indicate that our hands are empty and every thing was in hands of God. Who can help us if God withheld the rains", said Mufti Khaleel Ahmad.