Bhuj celebrates as Hamirsar overflows

People of Bhuj, the district headquarters of the border district of Kutch, were in a celebration mood on Sunday and Monday.

Gathered on the banks of the 450-year-old Hamirsar lake, located in the heart of the city, they participated in the traditional puja and thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate bountiful rains in this drought-prone area.

And why not? The lake, spread over 28 acres, and resembling the Kankaria lake in Ahmedabad, is overflowing halfway through the monsoon, after three years! A sure sign that the rain gods have been generous to Kutchis this year.

The district administration was not left behind in facilitating celebrations by the locals. After all, the lake has overflown only 21 times since independence. In keeping with an old tradition, the district collector invoked his special power and declared a holiday in Bhuj on Monday.

In fact, Bhuj residents were not in a mood to wait till Monday and the celebration started from Sunday itself when they saw the lake overflowing with rain water. Incidentally, 542 mm rainfall has been recorded in the district during this season.

The revellers gathered at the lake to witness the age-old tradition to thank the rain gods.

In the presence of a big gathering, top govt officials, including district collector M Thennarasan and district superintendent of police Wabang Jamir, and former presidents of Bhuj municipality, Bhuj municipality president Devaraj Gadhavi performed a puja.
Prior to Kutch becoming part of the Indian Union in 1948, the ceremony used to be performed by a member of the royal family of the erstwhile princely state.