India, March 22 -- The globe marks World Water Day on March 22 every year. But for a unique sect located in southern Iraq and neighbouring parts of Iran, every moment of their lives is regulated by the use of water. This is also the reason why they today are dealing with 'cultural wounds' as the rivers they depended on for millennia, have dried up and there is no water left for their rituals.

The Mandaean community has traditionally traced its lineage to John the Baptist, who is also a key figure in Christianity and Islam. They have traditionally lived along the banks of the Euphrates, Tigris and Karun rivers in Iraq and Iran, where they perform crucial baptisms, known as Masbuta.

But why does this group place so much importance on wate...