Macchial Lake
| Macchial Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Joginder Nagar |
| Coordinates | 31°56′17″N 76°47′49″E / 31.93806°N 76.79704°ECoordinates: 31°56′17″N 76°47′49″E / 31.93806°N 76.79704°E |
| Primary inflows | Ranna Khad, Neri Khad |
| Primary outflows | Ranna Khad, a tributary of Beas river |
| Catchment area | Joginder Nagar Valley |
| Basin countries | India |
| Max. length | 200 m |
| Max. width | 50 m |
| Max. depth | 5 m |
| Surface elevation | 850 m |
Macchial Lake or Machyal Lake is a low altitude lake which is situated in Mandi district (8 km from the Jogindernagar town). This lake is considered sacred and is named after Machinder Nath or Matasya Avtar of Lord Vishnu literally 'The Fish God'.
Getting there
The lake is located 8 km southwards from Joginder Nagar at Joginder Nagar-Sarkaghat state highway. Further, 2 km southwards is the first Mahseer farm of India at the village of Bhararu. A comparatively larger and wider stream is one kilometre eastwards of the Lake near Uhl stage 3 project site that remains crowded with Himalayan Golden Mahseer.
Religious Significance
Machhiyal is sacred to local natives and surrounding villages. In earlier days, people made their wishes to Machinder Nath and on fulfilment of their wishes, they would offer the promised gift to the God. One of such offerings was to ornament the sacred Himalayan Golden Mahseer fish with gold nasal rings and in earlier days such sacred Golden Mahseer fish wearing golden rings could be noticed easily in the Lake. This tradition has almost disappeared nowadays. However, it is still common to feed fish to pay obeisance or as a wish for good luck and to avoid bad luck. People take holy baths in the stream on particular days of Hindu calender. Fishing is strictly prohibited in the stream following religious significance.
A fair marking the commencement the Indian traditional month of Vaishakh is held here every year. Fair is held for 3 days in which people from surrounding villages gather and observe the fair with great pomp and show. Along with a number of other sports activities including wrestling or 'kushti' is centre of interest which is held on the final day. Wrestlers from distant cities and districts come to show their talent and to win a handsome prize money.
History
Around 2000's, due to presence of some poisonous substances discharged into the Ranna Khadd, hundreds of fish died in and around the Machhiyal Lake. Showing divine respect toward the god, devotees buried all the dead fish in nearby land and criticized the incident with anger and resentment.
References
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