Fishermen offer Samudra Puja for bountiful season

Seeking blessings for a bountiful catch and a safe and secure season, a large number of fishermen and fisherwomen under the guidance of Kadali Jogi Mutt Seer Raja Yogi Nirmalanatha Maharaj, offered Samudra Puja (prayers to sea god), at Tannirbhavi in Mangaluru on Sunday.

The fishermen offer prayers to the sea god on the Full Moon day after the deep-sea fishing season-off ends.

The programme was organised by Mangaluru Yelu Pattana Mogaveera Samyuktha Sabha comprising Boloor, Bokkapatna, Kudroli, Hoige Bazaar, Bolar, Jeppu, Neereshwalya and Padu Hoige Mogaveera Gram Sabhas.

The puja was offered with milk, tender coconuts, fruits, coconuts and flowers to the sea.

After the puja ritual, the fishermen along with the seer took out a procession from Sri Brahma Babbarya Banta Daivasthana passing Bokkapattna, Bolooru, Ashwathakatte, Nagabrahma Sthana, Bolooru to reach Thannirbavi shore.

Mogaveera Gram Sabha members recited bhajans. Later, they proceeded towards the seashore.

The seer led the puja by offering milk, fruits, tender coconuts, flowers and other commodities to the sea, followed by the fishermen offering milk to the sea.

In Udupi

The fishermen in Udupi too offered Samudra Puja at Malpe shore.

After offering prayers at Vadabandeshwara Balarama Temple, Naganakatte, Bobbarya Daivasthana, the fishermen went in a procession to Malpe shore and offered prayers as per the tradition.

Fishermen consider the day as auspicious and a large number of them offer prayers to safeguard their family members from all evil when they venture into the sea for fishing for weeks at a stretch.

Udupi Fishermen Association president Sathish Kunder said, “The fishermen who venture into deep sea return after a week or 15 days. To ensure that they do not meet with any hardship, we offer prayers to the sea god.”

MLA K Raghupathy Bhat, former minister Pramod Madhwaraj, Fisheries Federation President Yashpal Suvarna and others participated in the prayers.