Primary inflows Max. length 200 m (660 ft) Surface elevation 850 m | Basin countries India Max. width 50 m (160 ft) Catchment area Joginder Nagar Valley | |
Location Joginder Nagar, Mandi district Primary outflows Ranna Khad, a tributary of Beas river | ||
Macchial Lake or Machyal Lake is a low altitude lake which is situated in Mandi district in India. The lake is considered sacred and is named after Machinder Nath or Matasya Avtar of Lord Vishnu literally 'The Fish God'.
Contents
- Map of Macchial Lake Machial Himachal Pradesh 175015
- Getting thereEdit
- Religious SignificanceEdit
- HistoryEdit
- References
Map of Macchial Lake, Machial, Himachal Pradesh 175015
Getting thereEdit
The lake is located 8 km southwards from Jogindernagar 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 SignificanceEdit
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 calendar. Fishing is prohibited in the stream following religious significance.
A fair marking the commencement of the Indian traditional month Vaishakh is held here every year. It is held during three 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 kusti 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.
HistoryEdit
Around 2000's, due to presence of some poisonous substances discharged into the river Ranna Khadd, hundreds of fish died in and around the Machhial Lake. Showing divine respect toward the god, devotees buried all the dead fish in nearby land and criticized the incident with anger and resentment.