Fishermen offer 'Samudra puja' in M'lore and Udupi

Mangalore/Udupi, August 2: The fishermen of Mangalore and Malpe coast offered Samudra Pooja (sea worship) by offering milk to the sea on Thannirbavi.

The puja is offered by fishermen before resuming fishing activities after the monsoon break.

In Mangalore, The Mangalore Yelu Patna Mogaveera Mahasabha organised a mass “samurda puja” at Tannirbavi.

According to Mahasabha member Ratnakar Putran fishermen offered puja to the sea for better and safe fishing season. “It is the sea alone that protects us during exigencies and emergencies. When we are sailing, it is the sea alone that is visible,” he said.

The idea of organising a mass prayer programme was to involve people from all communities in it. “There are several fishermen who cannot meet puja expenses. We also want others to know the significance of this event (offering prayers),” Mr. Putran said. The mahasabha included Mogaveera sabhas from Bolur, Bokkapatna, Bolar, Kudroli, Hoige Bazaar, Jeppu, Neereshvalya and Paduhoige Bengre, he added.

The event began with a “Shobayatra” from Bokkapatna Jai Hind Yuvaka Mandala at 11 a.m. The yatra passed through Bokkapatna and Bolur and reached Sultan Bathery. Later, the yatra set sailed on the Gurupura river to Tannirbavi. Rituals related to “samudra puja” performed in the presence of Sri Raja Sandhyanathaji from Kadali Math in Kadri.

Udupi

It has been a tradition among the members of the fishermen community to offer poojas to the sea to pray of better fish catch, to save their lives from toofans etc on the Rugupakarma day every year. This year's Samudra Pooja was unique as it fell on August 2, even as the fishing ban continued till August 10. During the fish ban, only small and tradition boats go for fishing and deep sea boats will not enter the sea. This Samudra Pooja fishermen of small and traditional boats offered the pooja.

Prior to offering the pooja, fishermen offered poojas to Balarama, the presiding deity of Vadabandeshwara Temple, Malpe. Community leaders Rama Kanchan, Pramod Madhwaraj, Yashpal Suvarna, Keshava Kotian and others participated in the pooja.