Overview
- Multiple faith communities across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai held special prayers for rain on Friday, June 19, reflecting a coordinated, citywide religious response to the late monsoon.
- Gorai’s East Indian community revived a centuries-old St Anthony procession that had not been performed for about 25–30 years; roughly 150 people carried a statue and balanced stones as a symbol of hoped-for rain.
- Mosques staged post-Juma duas and Namaz-e-Istisqa services, including a June 19 congregation at Rabodi Jumma Masjid led by Mufti Azimuddin Sahab and planned Namaz-e-Istisqa gatherings on June 21 in Panvel and Nerul.
- Marol village held a Catholic procession led by the parish priest in which more than 100 residents carried the statue of St Anthony and recited hymns to pray for replenishing rains and water supplies.
- Organisers cited religious texts and local tradition in calling the gatherings, using the ceremonies to express communal solidarity and public anxiety about falling reservoir levels, seasonal water cuts and the need for urgent relief.