Concerned over reduced water flow in major rivers during the ongoing monsoon season, the Telangana government has sought divine intervention to boost rainfall across the state. On Monday, the state administration initiated a grand 'Varuna Yajna' ritual along the banks of the Krishna River at the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in Nalgonda district. The prayer ritual aims to secure bumper crops, protect agricultural interests, and ensure adequate water levels in key reservoirs throughout the region. Vedic scholars and priests from the renowned Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Yadagirigutta are conducting the proceedings.
108 Vedic Priests and 11 Sacred Fire Pits
The Varuna Yajna is structured according to traditional Vedic rites. A group of 108 'Rithwiks' and expert Vedic scholars have gathered at the venue to perform holy chants and offer prayers. A total of 11 'Homa Kundas' (fire pits) have been constructed at the site to conduct continuous oblations. On Monday morning, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, accompanied by his wife, arrived at the edge of the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir to offer prayers and formally mark the commencement of the rituals.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is scheduled to join the event for the 'Poornahuti' or the final concluding ceremony. Other prominent government leaders, including cabinet ministers Konda Surekha and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, alongside various MPs, MLCs, and MLAs, are also participating in the ceremonies. The auspicious date and timing for the event were determined by senior priests from the Yadagirigutta temple.
Prayers for Bumper Harvests and Mitigation of El Nino Effects
Elaborating on the motivation behind the initiative, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted that the yajna is meant to promote overall prosperity and ensure favorable monsoon conditions across the state and country. The administration hopes that increased rainfall will revive river flows in both the Krishna and Godavari basins, enabling the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and other regional reservoirs and tanks to reach full capacity while insulating Telangana from the adverse impacts of El Nino.
Although rainfall during the second half of July and early August helped narrow the overall South-West monsoon rain deficit down to 5 percent, major reservoirs across the Krishna and Godavari river basins have yet to experience significant water inflows to meet long-term agricultural and supply demands.
Low Water Storage Levels at Nagarjuna Sagar Reservoir
Official data highlights the severe drop in water storage at key irrigation structures. Nagarjuna Sagar, one of the largest reservoirs in the state, currently holds 145.65 TMC of water against its total storage capacity of 312.045 TMC. The water level at the dam presently stands at approximately 518 feet, considerably below its maximum permissible level of 590 feet.
This situation contrasts sharply with the conditions recorded around the same time last year. On August 9 of the previous year, storage at the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir stood at 310.25 TMC, with the water level reaching 589.40 feet, nearly hitting its maximum capacity. The stark difference has prompted state officials to turn to traditional prayers in hopes of stimulating catchment precipitation.
