Want to have the unique and enthralling experiences of a boat journey in the blue waters of Arabian sea, a jolly picnic in an serene island and also the religious feeling of attending a God’s festival? If yes, you should participate in the annual festival of Narasimha temple in Kurmagad island, Karwar.
Kurmagad is an island off the coast of Karwar, in the west coast of India. A temple dedicated to ‘Narasinha’ is located in this island. He is the much revered God of the fishermen community of this region. A one day annual festival of this temple is held sometimes in the month of January. Thousands of people travel to this island on boats, along with bunches of banana to take part in this rare type of festival. Majority of the fishing boats call off their fishing activity on this day and offer their service to ferry people for this festival. Banana bunch is the special offering to the Narasimha God. The Idol of the God is also carried to the island in the previous night of the festival and is brought back on the next day. For the rest of the time, the idol is safely located in the temple of Kodibag on the main land.
For several people, the pleasure of island picnic is the more attractive reason than the festival. They reach the island in the morning and return only during late in the evening. Besides locals, people come from far away places of Maharashtra and Goa to partake in this unique island festival. See the pictures taken by Panduranga Harikantra of Karwar to believe what I have written about the festival.
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| View of Kurmagad Island (All Photos: Panduranga Harikantra) |
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| ....to the island.. |
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| ....on the island |
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| ....to the temple |
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| Huge crowd on the island |
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