Almost all Hindu temples have a sacred tank. Conventional beliefs hold that the water of a temple tank is holy and has cleansing properties. Hindus believe that water from the tank washes away their sins. So, it is an unwritten rule to take a dip in the temple tank before offering prayers to the presiding deity, thus purifying oneself. Further, water in India is largely dependant on the monsoons. In case the rains fail, or to preserve the fresh water that they have for drinking the people can look to these temple tanks to fulfil their basic needs, as the lone man seen here does.