Fishermen offer Samudra Pooja at Tannirbhavi, Malpe

They venture into sea for fishing only after offering prayers every year

A large number of fishermen and fisherwomen offered prayers to Sea God (Samudra Pooja) at Tannirbhavi Beach in Mangalore on Thursday.

The prayers to Sea God are offered on the full moon day (close to the last day of fishing holidays). The fishermen will venture into sea only on the following day, that is from Friday. It was believed that the day is considered very auspicious as a large number of them offer prayers, to safeguard and protect their family members (fishermen) from all evils when they go to sea for fishing for days and weeks together.

The programme was organised by Mangalooru Yelu Patna Mogaveera Samyuktha Sabha comprising Boloor, Bokkapatna, Kudroli, Hoige Bazaar, Bolar, Jeppu, Neereshwalya and Padu Hoige Mogaveera grama sabhas. On behalf of Kadri Sri Suvarna Kadali Matadhipathi, Raja Sandhyanathji offered the pooja. 

A senior citizen from fishermen community, Devendra Kanchan said that the tradition of offering prayers to the sea is being followed for the last many years. The fishermen believe sea as god which feeds their livelihood, he added. Recalling that he had participated in many Samudra Poojas, he said that fishermen community members were taking part in procession covering seven towns including Boloor, Bokkapatna, Bolara, Kudroli, Hoige Bazar, Paduhoige and Bengre.   

He also said that the Pournami (full moon) day in Karkataka month of Hindu traditional calender is the day to start fishing after three month long rest fishing in monsoon season. The day is auspicious for all the people who are engaged in fishing or related activities, he added and said that inviting Jogi math (Kadali) pontiff is the tradition of the Samudra Puja as many religious occasions of the region were blessed the religious heads of the math.

A J Hospital Chairperson A J Shetty and BJP leader Nithin Kumar among others were present.

Colourful procession

The day began with a procession (Shoba Yatre) from Bokkapatna Sri Brahma Bobbarya Daivasthana . This was followed by a Samudra Pooja wherein at first the seer offered milk, fruits, vegetables, tender coconuts, dry coconuts, flowers and other commodities.

Simultaneously, a large number of fishermen taking part in the rituals too threw coconuts to sea, which is also one of the rituals.

In Udupi

Thursday was indeed a special day for the fishermen of Udupi too. The fishermen at Malpe offered milk, tender coconut and carried out ‘Homa’ and ‘Havana’ to the sea god to ease the hardships and protect them during their sea venture and  for a fruitful year.

The pooja was performed under the initiative of Mogaveera Sangatane Malpe at Vadabandeshwara temple near the Malpe sea shore. The poojas were performed for a trouble-free fishing trade in the forthcoming fishing year. Traditionally, the fishermen who consider this day as sacred which happens to be “Rakhi Poornima”, offers prayer to the sea god with holy rituals and poojas.

Speaking on the occasion, Malpe Fishermen Association President Heeriyanna Keediyur said that every year the ritual is organised on this day. 

“As we are going to venture into business after a long holiday, we pray sea god to protect us from all sort of problems and difficulties. The tradition is followed since long back, during the opening of the fishing year,” he added.

Briefing over the significance of the items offered to the sea god, Keediyur said the coconut which is offered to sea god symbolises purity, the flowers indicates respect to the sea god, the sweet symbolises the dedication of the fishermen to safeguard the sea and milk symbolises the prayer for the addition of nutrition to living beings in the sea, he added.

Dakshina Kannada Fish Marketing Federation President Yashpal Suvarna and industrialist Pramodh Madhwaraj were present at the function.