Malpe Fishermen venture into Sea after offering ‘Samudra Puja’
Udupi: Fishermen offered ‘Samudra Puja’ at the Malpe beach here on Monday, August 7.
The programme was organised by Malpe Fishermen’s Association. Fishermen ventured into sea for fishing in traditional boats after offering Samudra puja every year.
Devotees who had gathered in large numbers offered milk, coconuts and flowers to the sea after performing the religious rituals. The rituals began after a procession, which started from the Vadabhandeshwara Temple in Udupi.
It is a tradition that Samudra Puja is being organised every year to please the sea. The sea will bless and protect the fishermen and also maintain peace in the society.
Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, said that today is the great day for Mogaveera community of Coastal line of India. Today the people of the Mogaveera community are celebrating Nariyal Poornima. It is a tradition for the members of the fishermen community to offer prayers to the sea God during Nariyal Poornima. The government’s fish ban ended on August 1, but traditionally, fishermen go to the sea only after Nariyal Poornima. As fishing is a risky profession, fishermen pray for a safe and a good haul, he added.
Ramachandra Swamiji of Kapila Ashram Chikkamagaluru, Meenakshi Madhava president, Sandhya Thilak Raj vice president CMC, Fishermen leaders Yashpal Suvarna, Hiriyanna Kidiyoor, Satish Kundar and others were present.