'The Ocean Pays Homage to the Devi'

[Guest guest]

PALANPUR (10 Aug, 2006): Until a week ago, a stretch of land in

Banaskantha district of Gujarat along the state's border with

Pakistan was just like the rest of the region—desert. But a few days

of rains turned the barren land into a lake spreading over 75 km

between Nadabet and Pakistan border.

 

Locals say it is a miracle and scores of them line up to pray on the

banks of the oasis. Villagers say that half of the lake contains

rainwater while the other half is sea water, which tastes salty.

 

They believe that the ocean has come to pay homage to the local

deity—the nearest coast is almost 100 km away from the region.

 

Range forest officer Dungarsinh Solanki, who tasted the water, also

says it is salty. One can easily distinguish between rainwater and

sea water on the basis of colour, he said, adding that while one

part of the lake is murky, the other is blue in colour.

 

Deputy conservator of forests J V Joshi too claims to have tasted

the water. "I'm sure it is sea water," he says. The unusual

phenomenon was noticed last week when Vav and Radhanpur talukas of

Banaskantha and Patan districts received heavy rainfall.

 

A lake was formed and a part of it appeared to be blue in colour. As

the word spread, a large number of villagers began lining up to

break coconuts.

 

According to them, the ocean has come to pay its respect to goddess

Nadeswari at a temple that is managed jointly by villagers and BSF.

Says Suigam sarpanch Bhanabhai, "The ocean has come to pay its

homage to the goddess."

 

SOURCE: The Times of India: "A miracle: Desert turns into lake" by

Pramod Panwar [0058hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK]

URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1879324.cms