In the state of Assam (India), some people of the villages, and some reside in other areas, in oil townships - my hometown is Moranhat, some people stay in the residential colonies of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), some in the residential colonies of Oil India Limited (OIL), government employees and teachers and traders reside here amiably and peacefully; though there are some characteristic differences in celebrating the annual shraddha. Families invite close relatives and guests with admiration to their home to attend the shraddha; with care and love, guests are treated with fruits, sweets and rice, and turtle meat. Serving rice and turtle meat during the shraddha ceremony is an age-old tradition of many people, and those who reside near my home, and in the residential colonies. This custom had been carried out by them and their families generation after generation. These sections of the people even adjourn their annual shraddha week after week till a turtle come to their hand. Only after a turtle come to their hand, they would carry out the shraddha It is remorseful to state that those people who have been clinging to this custom have not been able to give up this age-old practice in the 21st century also. This custom is badly engrossed in their minds; they will try to purchase a turtle at any cost to carry out the shraddha. They would say in grief, “How will we be able to celebrate the annual shraddha without a turtle!” This horrendous and dreadful practice of serving rice with turtle meat (both literate people and illiterate farmers) has been continuing for ages. They are with the notion that their parents, grandparents, and great- grand-parents used to serve the guests during the annual shraddha with rice and turtle meat, therefore, they will abide by this practice, and they will not disperse from this age-old practice.

Turtle population is on a decline in our state, and it is illegal to catch turtles and sell them in the market. It is staggering to note that the fishermen sell them in the market on the sly; and sometimes, they catch turtles and bring it directly to those houses who needed them. Thousands of turtles are caught in the rivers and in the seas by fishermen; while catching, some turtles are injured in a gloomy manner, and some are killed by fishermen. It is very remorseful to state that most of the time, a large number of dead turtles are washed up ashore during fishing; and a large number of turtles are killed by machine boats operated by commercial fishermen.

Trawl nets, long lines, and drift nets – these nets are regretfully accountable for the diminishing population of the turtles. Peril to the turtles creeps up when beaches are developed which included building new mega ports, lighting, and tourism. Besides these, every year thousands of turtles are accidentally captured and injured. When turtles are caught in the fishing line, many anglers simply cut the fishing line, so the hook remains in the mouth of the turtle causing extreme suffering to the turtle and bringing obstacles and hurdles in their feeding. Sometimes, hooks are swallowed and they got lodged in the turtle’s throat and end up in the stomach which could be fatal to them and in such cases, turtles might die. Turtles are also affected by plastics in every stage of their lives. When plastic debris is thrown on the banks of rivers and beaches, turtles crawl through the plastics to the rivers and seas through the plastic materials and they confuse the plastic material for jellyfish which is the favorite edible for them. These plastics get stuck in a tragic way in their stomach. This weakens the turtles in their desire to feed themselves, leading to malnutrition and starvation.

How to save the turtles and how we can begin to love this beautiful reptile?

I think art competitions on turtles should be organized among the children to arouse love for the turtles. Such competitions could be conducted by clubs and societies. In our state, in some festivals, a mammoth amount of money is collected by the clubs and societies from the traders, ONGC office, and OIL office, and from some selected homes of some residential places. In the construction of stage and stage decoration, and for cultural functions, a colossal amount is remitted in such things. I feel a small amount of that collection should be used for creating awareness among the children for the preservation of the turtles. I am sure if such things are done, a love and affection for the turtles shall grow among them. When they shall grow up, the old practice of using this beautiful creature in the shraddha ceremony will be discarded.

On the western coast of Maharashtra (India), lie a small fishing village called Velas; an annual festival called Velas turtle festival is organised there every year. This Velas festival the turtle is to embark on the natural breeding process of sea turtles, and it is dedicated to the conservation of the turtles. People in large numbers come to the Velas turtle festival to celebrate the hatching process of the turtles; some come to capture candid pictures of the crawling pictures of these little creatures dallying their way to the sea, and other tourists come to while away the time in enjoyment and in ecstasy for the healthy ecosystem. The Velas turtle festival is organised in March every year. During the festival, tourists are barred from touching the baby turtles; they are prohibited to use light, and the atmosphere remains tranquil till the festival continues. The tourists are forbidden to use music and sound during the festival; plastics and waste are forbidden to litter in the area since disposing of these plastics in the area might affect the baby turtles and might affect them for their journey to the seawater.

World turtle day is celebrated on 23, May every year. World turtle day is not about showing affection to the turtles, but also to make sure that we can save their habitat and protect them. In our state, those people who say turtle is necessary for them during the annual shraddha should be enlightened about the Velas festival, and about World turtle day. When aged people in our society sit together to talk, the children and those who love turtles should discuss the Velas turtle festival and how the people of that village care so much about the turtle; also we should take initiative to celebrate world turtle day like any other celebration. I am sure, if affection towards turtles grows among them, they will prefer celebrating their annual shraddha in another manner in a more beautiful and devotional way.

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