Udupi: The youth and the elders of the village had come to participate in the fishing competition to mark the ‘Saurmana Ugadi’ festival on Wednesday, April 15. On the occasion of ‘Saurmana Ugadi’ (Bisu Parba) all the villagers came together to catch fish and then share the catch equally. Everyone got into the pond to catch fish. Over hundred people come every year to catch fish in this area on Ugadi. Many varieties of fishes are normally found in the large pond.
This unique celebration is in practice in Bailakere of Thenkanidyoor village in the taluk. While few of them catch the fish using nets, others catch fish with bare hands in the water. People from outside the village too participate in the festival. The catch included a variety of fish like kandaii, mugudu, kijan, pumeen and catfish.
Speaking to mediapersons, villager Sridhar Kotian said, “We have been organising the fish catching festival from the last 5 years. The head of the village enters the pond first to catch the fish and then others follow. The fish caught will be taken home and cooked. Some will share their catch with friends.”