Amazing Koliyak fair inside the sea near Bhavnagar(PHOTO STORY)

Amazing Koliyak fair inside the sea near Bhavnagar(PHOTO STORY)
By Mukesh Pandit
Bhavnagar, DeshGujarat, 21 August, 2009



On the eve of Bhadarvi amas, the last day of Shravan nearly two lakhs take a holy dip in the sea at Koliyak village, 28 km from Bhavnagar in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region.

There is a Nishkalank Mahadev Shiv Mandir in the middle of the sea. People rush to the Shiv Ling that arise from the sea. It is said that Pandavas established Nishkalank or Nakalank Mahadev on a new moon night of the Indian calendar month of Bhadarva.

A Shiv Linga of god Shankar was established on an island, over the sea about 3 km to the east of Koliyak. This temple can be reached between 9.00 am to 12.00 pm on the day next to the new moon night. It has to be noted that the place gets inundated under the tide so the visitors should leave the place before 1.00 pm

The event also coincides with traditional fair, wherein thousands of village communities participate.

This year devotees of all age groups, including children, began to throng koliyak converting it into a vibrant, lively and humming spot by Friday afternoon. State transport organized extra trips to the village for ferrying passengers from Bhavnagar bus station. Even other transport vehicles plied by private operators did a brisk business.

Here are the photos presented by our lensman Mukesh Pandit.