Fishermen invoke the blessings of the Almighty before the start of the fishing season.
MARGAO
After a month and fortnight-long lull, the fishing village of Benaulim returned to its hustle and bustle on Thursday.
With just five days to go for the new fishing season to commence, traditional fishermen operating from the Benaulim beach belt participated in the annual ritual of invoking the blessings of the Almighty before symbolically taking a canoe laden with fish nets into the sea.
While the ritual signifies preparation of the way for the motorised canoes to venture out in the sea before kick-starting the new fishing season, beleaguered fishermen, however, seemed worried about the weather gods. Though the heavy rains have subsided over the last two days, the Arabian Sea is still rough, with huge waves battering the coast.
Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Church, Benaulim, Fr Ligorino Da Costa and Assistant Priest Fr Clifford descended on the Benaulim beach on Thursday morning to bless the country-made fishing boats and the fishing nets. Fr Clifford told the media that they all prayed to God to help the fishermen in their endeavour and give them success so that they get a good catch to satisfy the requirements of the people of Goa.
After invoking the Almighty and offering prayers at the Holy Cross, the fishermen pulled a canoe with fishing nets into the sea, before returning to the shore after casting the net.
A traditional fisherman Joaquim Xavier said the fishermen from Benaulim perform the annual ritual on the beach at the beginning of the new fishing season by offering prayers to the Almighty and preparing the way for the fishing boats to venture out. “This tradition has been continued from generation to generation, symbolising the beginning of the fishing season. The actual fishing season will begin, depending on the condition in the sea,” he said.
Says Fisherman Pele, “Every year on July 25, the fishermen perform this ritual of invoking the blessings of the Almighty followed by pulling a canoe to the sea to symbolically mark the beginning of the new fishing season. The new fishing season officially starts on August 1, but fishermen with country-made canoes venture out into the sea two-three days before the season with the goodwill of the stakeholders. This year, however, the condition of the sea is not conducive for fishing.”
