Velas
turtle festival 2014 – An escape from cacophony to calmness.
“It was dark and my body was cramped up. Slowly, I tried opening
my eyes and stretched my front feet, as I awoke from a deep sleep. Crack, it
went, the shell I was resting in broke open. It was still dark, I was
surrounded by a soft cushion of sand, I wanted air to breathe. With lot of
efforts on my tiny weak torso, I kept flapping my legs backwards, and pushing
myself upwards. After battling with the sand for a few minutes, my head finally
popped out, I could see light, I could breathe fresh air and I was out into a
new world. I was surrounded by so many giants, but they were nice to me. As
soon as I was out, I could hear these humans cheering on my arrival - they applauded
and sang the birthday song. I felt so special. After a few minutes,
I was picked up by one of the human and put in a basket. I was worried and
clueless, where I was being transported to. After a while, I was placed
on a brown aisle of wet sand leading to the sea. There were barricades around
my path and the humans were standing behind these barricades. I felt like a
celebrity by birth - the crazy crowd, the cameras, the brown carpet, the
security and me doing my turtle - walk. I did miss having other turtles like me
around for company. As I took my first baby steps, I was hungry, I was worried
and I was curious to know where I was heading. Ahead was a huge body of water
waiting to gulp me, as I was nearing it. But there was no looking back, I had
to keep walking, to begin my life in the sea world.” These would have been the thoughts going on in the infant
turtle’s mind.
Lets go in a flashback
mode, March 28, 2014, as per my Friday morning ritual, I opened the last page
of the newspaper which gives an update on the activities and events happening around
town over the weekend. A picture of a small baby turtle walking on the sand, with
the caption “Welcoming Baby Turtles” caught my attention. I quickly read the
details, it was a turtle festival which happens every year at Velas, when
people travel to this beach to welcome baby turtles into this world and
encourage them to take their first baby steps into the sea. I was exhilarated,
I immediately contacted the concerned event organizers for a few enquiries.
There was no scope for thinking much, so instantaneously decided that I had to
be at Velas that weekend.
On Saturday morning, 9:45 am, boarding a white bus I was off
to Velas. I was apprehensive and excited. The bus was slowly filling in with
new faces. The music played in the bus was also unheard of but I felt happy to
hear something new. This was just the beginning.
It was 6 in the evening after passing through tiny narrow
pathways, we reached Velas. The bus halted amidst a vast expanse of land, the
beach was a small stroll away. No sooner did we reach the beach, we were
disappointed to know they were no hatchlings that evening. Nevertheless, the remaining
evening was spent getting to know each other, playing with the waves, listening
to the breeze and enjoying peaceful time with ourselves. The sky was slowly
stretching its dark and star studded blanket over it, indicating it was time to
rest. With a hope to catch a glimpse of the baby turtles early morning, we
walked back to the bus. It was a fifteen minute walk, guided by the light
emitted by the moon, stars and torches. The innumerable glow worms and the
sweet sound of the insects added to the delight.
Our accommodation was in the village, a beautiful cottage
with a verandah in the front. We were weary and hungry. Dinner was simple home
cooked delicious food made by the locals. We were instructed to awaken by 5 am
atleast so that we reach the beach on time. But being far away from the hustle
and bustle of the city, amidst tranquil surrounding and clear starlit skies,
we chose to spend time conversing,
sharing stories and star gazing till it was past midnight. Finally, taking our
positions on the mattresses spread on the verandah we put our minds to rest.
I woke up at 5 am feeling fresh as a dew, I sat upright and
breathe in some fresh air, which is impossible to find in the city. Life in the
village has two major problems paucity of water and electricity. It was still
pitch dark, we had to manage all our early morning chores right from brushing
to changing clothes in the narrow beam of the torch light. A big drum was
filled with water which was the only source of water, the faucets in the house
had droplets falling out when turned on. But nevertheless, it is good to once
in a while come back to your roots and have such an experience, rather than
being slave of the comfortable and non-stop life that we lead.
Finally around 6 am on a Sunday morning, we sat on the cool sandy
beach, in anticipation and with our fingers crossed. As it started getting
brighter, more and more people started coming. There were people sitting around
an enclosure. The enclosure was made for conservation of the Olive Ridley
turtles. The eggs are collected and preserved in the sand pits and covered by a
basket. After an incubation period of 45 – 55 days, out pop the babies. I could relate the feeling, when I would wait
for my exam results. I have always experienced when the wait is not too long it
is a positive outcome, and otherwise. It was indeed a long two hour wait, we
were getting all excited and anxious at the same time. Thankfully it was worth
the wait, because of this one cute little fella who did wake up late on a
Sunday morning, unlike his 13 siblings who broke open from their eggs the
previous day.
 |
| Lucky Charm |
 |
| The Enclosure |
 |
| Turtle walk - Too tiny to spot |
 |
| Home away from Home |
Ashwini Joshi
