Narali Purnima: When the fishing community gets back to their trade through a cultural celebration

While for many communities in India, this weekend marks Raksha Bandhan, for the fishing community residing in Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is the arrival of their trade and livelihood. What they call 'Narali Purnima', or the coconut festival, highlights the end of the monsoon season and, simultaneously, the beginning of the fishing season. 

One of the major highlights of the festival includes the offering of coconuts to the sea god, Varuna, as per the Hindu Mythology. The aim is to seek blessings for "safe and prosperous fishing".

When the fishing trade comes to a halt

The government bans fishing during the monsoon, which lasts two months, from June to July, in the western coastal states. In contrast, India’s eastern coastal states impose a seasonal annual fishing ban from April 15 to June 14. As the monsoon season is also the breeding period for many species of fish, the ban ensures the natural reproduction. In Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1981, and the Amendment Ordinance, 2021, have a provision to ban fishing.

Moreover, the ban also manages to prevent overfishing, and the ban typically extends up to 12 nautical miles from the coastline. The breeding, during this time, also takes place without disturbance and helps maintain biodiversity. Another argument also suggests that the ban helps safeguard fisherpersons from the dangers caused by the seas during this season.

Even this year, a delegation comprising fisherfolk from both Maharashtra and Gujarat, who represent the Indian West Coast Fishermen Federation, had met Maharashtra's Minister of Fisheries, Nitesh Rane, for an extension of the monsoon fishing ban in the state until August 15 on the pretext that such a policy already exists in Gujarat.

Currently, the Gujarat government has a provision of fishing ban from June 1 to August 15, and reportedly, fisherfolks have mentioned that the move has boosted the sustainable fishing and fish stock regeneration. As a result, the traditional fishfolks have been demanding a similar timeline for Maharashtra, for which reasons are not just the ecological benefits but also safety concerns.

Regardless of the causes, the ban results in a great loss for the small-scale fishers. Over the past few years, the coastal fisherfolk have been suffering the results of the ban. The duration of the ban leaves the small fisherfolk to depend upon either the state or the central government for support. Meanwhile, the government support schemes also grapple with meagre, inefficient and limited funds.

According to a few reports, Maharashtra received Rs 30 lakh for 2,000 fishers in 2016, but not in the preceding or subsequent years until 2020. This year alone, as per the International Collective in Support of Fisherworkers, many fisherfolk mentioned that "they had lost a huge chunk of their income as fishing activities were temporarily stopped almost 20-25 days before the non-fishing season".

Another report states that the fisherfolk with big boats lost an approximate amount of Rs 5 lakh this season. 

Why the culture of celebrations become so important?

Amidst the loss in businesses, hence, the festival becomes important for the fishing Koli community, here in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The community celebrates it by decorating their boats and celebrating with their family members while keeping a day-long fast.

Narali means coconut, and Poornima signifies 'full moon', and the day falls on the full moon day or Purnima in the month of Shravana as per the Hindu calendar.

The festivals also call for the community people to assemble near the coast, not just to offer the coconuts but also to perform songs and dances, aligning with the folk traditions and folklore scenes that will come to life in both states this weekend.