Fish festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu

ANNAMANGALAM - An annual fishing festival held in Annamanagalam village of Tamil Nadu’s Perambalur district is a major draw, as it witnesses convergence of thousands of fishermen who fish in a huge temple pond on a particular day as per Tamil almanac.

This occasion is celebrated in a grand manner during summer, as fishing in this pond remains forbidden rest of the year. A special competition is also held among the fishermen.

Unlike angling, in which the anglers with a fishing rod and bait, they wait patiently for a prized catch.

The hallmark of this festival is that the fishermen from neighbouring hamlets catch fish by using their Dhotis (Indian wrap arounds for men), sarees or just hands.

“Yes, at Annamangalam, all of us gather to catch the fish in this river. Varieties of fish are found here weighing from five to 10 kilograms such as Kendia and Kezhuthi. We enjoyed catching these fish, truly a treat for all of us,” said Rajkumar, a local fisherman.

They also invite their family members from the nearby villages for this festival.

The villager, catching maximum number of fish, is declared as the winner and awarded a cash prize.

This year the occasion witnessed a large number of fishermen and general from 25 hamlets besides the general public. By Jaikumar (ANI)