A chakara (also Chaakara and in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

ചാകര) is a natural marine phenomenon observed along the

Malabar Coast The Malabar Coast () is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the West Coast of India, western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regio ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, particularly in

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

, where an extraordinary abundance of fish is brought close to the shore, sometimes even being washed ashore. The etymology of chakara relates to

words "Chaavu" and "Kara" meaning die on the shore, symbolising the huge stock of fish that piles up on the coast during these rare events. Chakara typically occurs during the

southwest monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

season when upwelling—caused by wind-driven movements of the ocean—brings nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface. These nutrients promote plankton blooms, creating an abundant food source for fish, leading to their congregation in large numbers near the shore. The phenomenon is more pronounced near areas with unique underwater topography that enhances upwelling, such as the Kerala coast. Locations of this rare occurrence are Purakkad in

Alappuzha Alappuzha (, आलप्पुळ) or Alleppey is a municipality and town on the Laccadive Sea in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the district headquarters of the district, and is located about north of the state capital Thiruvana ...

district and

Kodungallur Kodungallur (; formerly also called as Cranganore (anglicised name), Portuguese language, Portuguese: Cranganor; Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of Per ...

Thrissur Thrissur (, ), Renaming of cities in India, formerly Trichur, also known by its historical name Thrissivaperur, is a city and the headquarters of the Thrissur district in Kerala, India. It is the List of most populous urban agglomerations in Ke ...

District in Kerala. A similar phenomenon is also observed in some coastal regions in

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

Cultural and Economic Significance

For the coastal communities, Chakara is a period of economic prosperity. The sudden fish catch provides them with unexpected wealth, allowing fishermen to reap significant economic benefits in a short span. The event has also found its way into local folklore and traditions, symbolising nature’s generosity. Anthropogenic activities like overfishing and coastal development could impact its frequency and scale. Maintaining the health of coastal ecosystems is vital to ensure the sustainability of this phenomenon.

References

External links

Malayalam's Own Monsoon

{{Malayalam Literature , state=collapsed Malayalam terms Fishing in India