65 exotic turtles have made 122-year-old pond at Mumbai’s Juhu temple their home

For the past 10 years, a pond at 122-year-old Jakhmata Devi temple in Juhu has been a sanctuary for 65 red-eared slider turtles.
Native to southern United States and Mexico, the turtles have flourished and grown in numbers ever since 40 of them were released into the 10x12 feet pond located on the premises of the half-acre temple plot near International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple.
“They have grown, multiplied and the numbers are now more than 65,” said Manorama Rane, 86, Juhu village resident, caretaker of the temple premises. She is the granddaughter of Raghunath Rane, who built the temple in 1896 after he found an idol of Sitala Devi at the site. Five generations of the Ranes have been looking after the temple.
As per International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), red-eared sliders are among the commonly traded turtles in the world.
According to Manorama, her grandfather had planned to create a well to provide water for temple but ended up excavating an impression of Brahma’s lotus foot, which prompted him to name the pond Brahmakunda after its completion. The pond is also home to fish, including catfish (magur). However, water level in the pond is precariously low, said Rane.
“While the water level has deteriorated significantly since its construction, it has never dried up in more than 100 years,” she said, adding the temple is the oldest in the area which was once forested. “We do not feed the turtles or the fish. They fend for themselves. It is better that way.”

The temple remains open to public from 9am to 11am and 4pm to 6pm every day. The private plot, however, is under stress from outsiders as there is four-foot boundary wall around the temple and barbed wires fence at one end.
“Passers-by dump garbage and throw food into the pond for turtles, despite telling them not to. People have even brought turtles and tortoises to the spot and left them here. However, none of the other species have survived. We buried the dead turtles in a corner of the temple premises,” said Rane.
On several occasions, some of the turtles have been stolen from the area, she said. “I have filed complaints with the forest department and the local police, but nobody seems to care because there are many,” she said .
Apart from Rane, three of her friends Kavita Raut, Meena Juhar, and Geeta Kubal, all senior citizens, help her protect the temple premises. “At 86, she (Manorama) has tried everything she could to protect the temple. We help her keep the premises clean,” said Raut.
“The number of devotees visiting this temple increase significantly during Navratri. At this time, she needs help to ensure people do not steal the turtles or disturb their habitat. We help her protect them,” said Kubal. Forest department is unaware of the exotic turtles in Juhu. “This is the first time we are being informed about these turtles. We will depute a team to visit the site,” said Santosh Kank, range forest officer, Mumbai.
-
4.5 lakh govt jobs provided to youth in UP in 5 years: Guv
LUCKNOW Governor Anandiben Patel on Monday stated that 1.61 crore youth had been provided employment in the private sector through private investment while 60 lakh youth were linked to self-employment in Uttar Pradesh. “In the last five years, 4.5 lakh government jobs have been provided to the youth in UP by adopting a fair and transparent recruitment process,” she stated in her address to the joint sitting of both the houses of state legislature.
-
Govt ready for debate on any issue, says UP CM
LUCKNOW Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said his government was ready for a debate and reply on any issues related to development, the poor, farmers, youths and women, in the state assembly. Adityanath said he hoped that the members would get some guidance from the governor's address to the two houses of state legislature and the debate over his government's achievements and its future plans.
-
Medical board examines Sidhu, recommends special diet in jail
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is currently lodged in the Patiala central jail in a 1988 road rage case, was taken to Rajindra Hospital in the city on Monday for medical examination after his counsel moved an application demanding special diet for him. According to sources at Rajindra Hospital, Sidhu has been recommended a high-fibre and low-fat diet, which includes fruits, and boiled vegetables.
-
Delhiites can enjoy free electric bus rides for three days, says Kejriwal govt
Delhiites will get free rides for three days on 150 electric buses that will be flagged off by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday. "Happy & free travel for 3 days from Delhi Govt's end to Delhiites in the "150 electric buses" to be flagged off tomorrow, 24/5/2022 by honourable chief minister," read a tweet from the official handle of the city government. Individuals are also applying for e-charging points.
-
MSHRC to BMC chief: Explain delay in clearing slums near Eastern Freeway
Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission has issued a show cause notice to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on Monday, asking him to explain how unauthorised slums came up at the spot, causing a bottleneck and stopping motorists from accessing the Eastern Freeway at Panjrapole Naka, Chembur. MSHRC asked why remedial measures were not taken in time even after the area was handed over to the civic body in 2015.