Hyderabad, June 21 -- Mohammed Wajihuddin

The turtles and the fish are perhaps feeling a bit crammed. The small tanks which temporarily hold them are no substitute for their bigger habitat, the ancient tank or pond on which the iconic two-storied, rectangular Juma Masjid near Crawford Market stands. The 222-year-old, 8 ft deep talab, accessed by masonry steps and used for ritual wazu or ablution before the namaz, has been cleaned of its water, fish and turtles for the first time in three decades.

"As the second wave of pandemic hit and places of worship were ordered to be shut, we thought to clean up the pond and check if the 13 springs that feed the 150 feet long, 90 feet wide and 8 feet deep pond are fine," said Shoeb Khatib, chairman...