21-04-2025
Prayers held for rain in wilayats
Muscat: The Istisqa prayer, a collective prayer where people gather to supplicate for rain, was performed during the weekend in different wilayats of Oman including Nizwa, Nakhal, Ibri and Dima W'attayeen. This prayer is also known as the drought prayer.
On Saturday morning, men, women and children gathered outdoors for the prayer next to the Sa'al Dam in the Wilayat of Nizwa. Another prayer is scheduled to be held on April 25.
Khalsa al Abry, from the Wilayat of Al Hamra, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, explained that this winter has not seen any rain. 'We depend on well water and not desalination. This is why rain is extremely important for us.'
Not everyone has a well, so others have to rely on the water supply provided by the well owners.
Oman is known for its irrigated agriculture, which has historically been a central feature of the nation's economy.
According to a report by the UN Water, irrigation is a fundamental component of the country's agricultural activity, with over 80 per cent of cultivated land being irrigated using groundwater. This highlights the importance of rain.
Rainfall must take into account the evaporation rate, rainwater runoff to the sea, and direct infiltration to groundwater.
The International Water Management Institute reported that the northern parts of Oman receive the rainy season between December and April, which accounts for 58 to 83 per cent of the annual rainfall, with a focus on March and April.
