The Chandrabhaga beach in Odisha has received Asia’s first “Blue Flag” certification for maintaining cleanliness and environment standards.
The “Blue Flag” tag is awarded to beaches that are clean, environment-friendly and comply with 33 environment and tourism-related conditions.
The Chandrabhaga beach was awarded the recognition by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on World Environment Day on Tuesday (June 5).
The Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICoM), a MoEFCC body entrusted with managing coastal areas, is developing 12 more Indian beaches to meet the “Blue Flag” standard.
Among them are Chiwla and Bhogave beaches from Maharashtra and one beach respectively from Puducherry, Goa, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Here are 10 things to know about Odisha’s Chandrabhaga beach:
1. The Chandrabhaga beach is located just 3 km eat of the famous Sun Temple of Konark in Odisha’s Puri district. From Puri city, the distance to Chandrabhaga beach is 30 km.
2. The sea beach is named after Chandrabhaga river which joins sea here.
3. As per local legend, the Chandrabhaga beach is considered a place which offers natural cure for lepers.
4. Mythology says Lord Krishna’s son Shamba, who was suffering from leprosy, prayed to the Sun God for cure on the river mouth of Chandrabhaga. Since then, it is considered a revered place for religious activities.
5. Another mythological story links the beach to Chandrabhag, daughter of a sage. The beautiful lady caught fancy of the Sun God, who sought her hand in love. But Chandrabhaga rejected him and when the Sun God chased her, she killed herself by jumping into the river to protect her chastity.
6. Even today, on the seventh day of the full moon fortnight of Magha month, Chandrabhag’s sacrifice is observed where people from across the state come here to take a holy dip into the river and offer their prayers to the Rising Sun.
7. However, the river has been reduced to a shallow pool over the years.
8. The serene beach is rich in its marine resources.
9. A large colony of migrant fishermen from Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam city reside here.
10. Every year from Dec 1-5, the Odisha Tourism Department hosts the popular International Sand Art Festival at the Chandrabhaga sea beach.