The Koli community which is celebrating Narali Purnima today, 11th August, with a hope to have a good catch this season ,is facing cyclonic wind conditions which have been prevailing at Mumbai and Navi Mumbai coast since last week . Fishermen are praying to Sea God for the safe return of their fellow men who have already ventured into the sea for their livelihood. “Yesterday evening a boat was damaged and another was drowned at Karanja jetty, Uran due to gusty wind. The boats were somehow brought back to the jetty and are now under reconstruction,” informed a fisherman.
From the day of Narali Purnima fishermen or the Koli community start new ventures with their boats with a hope of good catch and good return commencing a new fishing season. Many of them had already ventured into the deep sea on the first day of August hoping for a good catch and returned yesterday to observe Narali Purnima.
Chandrakant Koli from Jaimeri Panvel Koli Samaj shared, “On July 30th, the Indian Meteorological Department had issued a red alert for a deep-sea cyclone and August 1st onwards cyclonic wind condition prevailed at Mumbai coastline. After two months’ halt of fishing activities, many Koli people sailed their boats in deep sea since August 3 with a hope for good catch. They could not return due to cyclonic wind conditions in the sea. But it is good to know that most fishing boats have taken shelter at Jaigad port, near Goa border since 8th of this month. Today 11th August is the coconut Purnima festival of fishermen. We, all are praying wholeheartedly to the sea God for a safe return and no mishap while fishing.“
The Panvel koli community has been practicing Narali Purnima festival since ages and today they all prayed together to Sea God by offering sacred coconut for a safe and sound fishing year ahead.
The fishing community celebrated Narali Purnima with glitz and glitterati today on 11th August at various locations along the Thane Creek and extended jetties. Thousands of fishermen along with their family members thronged at the venues like Sarsole junction, Airoli-Diva jetty and Belapur jetty, Diwale jetty, Vashi coast to join in the celebration which was conducted through cultural programmes all through the day.