Velas Turtle Festival 2022 (March - April)- Special Occasion

Location of Velas turtle festival

Velas is a small seaside fishing village in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district. The area is recognized for its beaches, which depict nature in its most pristine and well-preserved state.

Velas is located in Ratnagiri's Mandangad Taluka, around 230 kilometers from Mumbai and 200 kilometers from Pune. Velas is a western coastal town known for its beaches, Harihareshwar temple, Bankot fort, and the Turtle Festival, which is one of the most promising in the country.

It's about seeing newborn turtles hatch from their eggs and slowly make their way into the water to begin their life's journey. Local villagers arrange this festival, also known as the Olive Ridley Turtle Festival. They do so in collaboration with the Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra NGO.

What is the Velas turtle festival?

Turtles congregate on the beach in preparation for the hatching of their eggs. Turtles begin laying eggs in February and continue to do so until April.

This festival is primarily a sea turtle conservation event and a celebration of the natural breeding process. You won't be able to see it on specific dates or times.

It's a step-by-step procedure; you must first arrive and then wait for the procedure to begin. The majority of the hatching occurs in March and April.

Velas, on the other hand, has recently attracted tourists due to its Velas turtle festival in Maharashtra. Hundreds of Olive Ridley Turtles, one of the most endangered marine turtle species, nest on Velas Beach and lay hundreds of eggs.

It's a festival where you can see newborn Ridley turtles on their first big adventure. Yes, it is their first critical baby turtle's steps as they crawl towards the open Arabian sea. 

These baby turtles step into the golden sand where they belonged to. This is especially essential for young female turtles, as once they reach adulthood, they return to the same beach where they were born to lay their eggs, which can take up to 15 years.

Since 2006, Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra has organized the Velas Turtle Festival every year, and we shall once again see the Velas Turtle Festival thanks to their tireless work.

During the Velas Turtle Festival, newly hatched sea turtle hatchlings are released into the water. The Velas Turtle Festival is one of the year's most popular and talked-about events in and around Mumbai, with hundreds of nature enthusiasts and photographers eagerly anticipating its start.

The Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra founded the Kaasav with the active participation of local villagers from Velas.

Have a look at About Velas turtle festival in the web story