People across the globe and especially the ones who are nearby coastal areas acknowledge the importance of the soft, life-saving drink and flesh of the nut, by celebrating the World Coconut Day on 2^nd September every year.

The world coconut day was designated by Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) on 2^nd September. All the major coconut growing countries including India are the members of the APCC.

Do you know that, an annual Coconut day is actually celebrated by traditional Hindus in coastal areas? According to the Hindu Calendar, the auspicious eve of the full-moon day in the holy month of Shravan is chosen as the day to celebrate it along Mumbai coastline and nearby states of Maharashtra.This day is also called as Nariyal Purnima and it marks the end of monsoon in Maharashtra.

At this time of the year fishing and water-trade season  begins and in gratitude fishermen gather at the sea shore and throw coconut into the sea as an offering to the sea god ‘Varuna’ and pray for their safe journey over water. Dancing and singing are the important part of the festival.

The reason for offering only coconuts and no other fruit is because every part of the coconut tree is in use to people such as leaves, bark and the coconut fruit itself. Thus this offering of coconut is to please the sea god. It is also believed that the shell of the coconut appears to have three eyes, which are associate with the god Shiva, who is believed to have three eyes.

Many people in the Indian subcontinent  also feel that breaking a coconut brings good luck to any new venture, such as the beginning of the trade season.

There is also a cultural reason for this day. The period before the Purnima of Shravan is regarded as the mating season for the fish. Thus during this period, the fishermen withhold their fishing activity so that they do not disturb the process of reproduction by killing the fish. Thus, during this period no fishing takes place and no fish is consumed by the people So this day marks the beginning  of eating fish and the reason for throwing coconut into the high tide is to calm the heavy motion and intense of the sea ’.

It is also believed that after this day the strength and the direction of wind changes in favour of fishing.

Seema Kumari

  Maharashtra, World Coconut Day