Country’s first owl festival in Pune

PUNE: NP NEWS 24 ONLINE-  For the conservation of the owl birds which are in danger due to superstitions and misconceptions them, the first ‘Uluk Mahotsav’ (owl festival) has been organized in Pingori in Purandar taluka. The festival is being organized on Thursday (November 29) and Friday (November 30) by Ela Foundation. ‘Uluk’ is the name of the owl bird in Sanskrit language.

For the conservation of owls, the postage tickets with photographs of owls, coins and currency notes (which shows the importance of owls), will be available on the occasion of this festival. It is the first such festival of the country and the Ella foundation will take the initiative of World All-Conference in the next year (November-December 2019).

Owls are in dangers due to superstitions and misconceptions; Protect from rats :

Ella Foundation’s founder and bird expert Dr Satish Pandey gave information about this festival. Pandey said, “If an owl seen by anyone, then he/she dies and because of this superstitions, owl has been named as Maderpakhru. But the owl is a friend of the farmers as it is rescuing farmers from the rats problem.”

The owl’s view is considered inauspicious because there is misconception that if an owl seen by anyone, then he/she dies it. This bird’s ear has not been structurally aligned. It also has the ability to listen to very low intensity sounds. Therefore, he is referred to as a Karnpishach (Ghost). The owl’s wings are very soft, there is no sound of its wings while flying, only shadow appears. So the owl that flies in is considered as a shadow of a ghost. The fears spread about owls, as it can turn its neck 360 degree.

Extinction of owls :

Out of 262 species, only seventy five hundred species of owls are found now. This all happened only because of misunderstanding and misconceptions about owls. About 40 species of them are found in Maharashtra.

Around eighty eight thousand owls were killed from superstition, misunderstanding and smuggling in 2015 in India. The main reason of its extinction is that owls’ habitats are being destroyed.

Need of awareness :

If we really want to conserve them, then we change our mentality first, as we have many misconception and superstations about this bird. For this, it is necessary to tell importance of this bird to our next generation and make friendly relations with them.

That’s why, ten thousand students from around 150 schools will participate in this festival. There will be exhibition of twelve hundred pictures, posters, sculptures, and artworks prepared by the students.