Saptah

SAPTAH

A festival which is truly unique to goa, is the largest celebration that takes place in the town of Vasco namely SAPTAH. “Saptah” literally means seven and the celebrations go on for a week, however the fair and stalls set up sometimes carry on for up to ten days. This festival worships lord Damodar who is an avtar of lord Shiva.
There is a story behind Saptah to be celebrated. It is believed that worshiping lord Damodar saved Vasco. There was an outbreak of cholera in the town of Vasco. With out the benefit of modern medicine, the town people were dying like flies and elders of the town felt that something had to be done. No medicines could cure the diseases. There was no control on deaths. Being largely spiritual people, they at once turned to god. The village elders brought coconut from the famous Damodar temple at Zambaulim and kept in local Mata high school. As soon as they did this, people started recovering faster from the disease.

People believed that where medicines couldn’t help, Gods blessings did. There was happiness and joy in the town. Delighted with this outcome, one of the elder of village converted a part of his house into a temple for lord Damodar. This house is main center of festive celebration even today.
This festival takes place in the month of Shravan (July/ August) right after Nagpanchami. The old coconut is removed from the temple and taken in procession around the town accompanied by singing and dancing and then immerse the coconut in the sea. In evening they organize bhajans which is carried over whole night. Damodar temple is located in the Swatantra Path which is a main road in Vasco town.

This road is closed during Saptah for seven days.
There is a huge fair which is set up along the road side. Vendors from all over across the country come with their wares ranging from eatables to clothes and accessories to household items. During these seven days the entire town of Vasco is blessed with joy and happiness showered.

Shree Kamakshi Zatra

SHREE KAMAKSHI ZATRA

The ancient Mother Goddess, possibly the deity to be worshipped by humans, has assumed the identity of Shiva’s consort – Parvati. She, too, has taken many incarnation, which depict the many moods of woman, with aspects such as the benign, through evil-destroying Durga, her even more peaceful form as Shantadurga, and all the way through her terrifying form of Kali. Goddess Kamakshi is the universal Mother Goddess.
The temple of Shri Kamakshi is located in the village of Shiroda, which is situated in South Goa, 12 kilometers from Ponda town and 22 kilometers from the city of Margao. In the village of Shiroda, a huge mahadwar (a temple gate) leads us to the temple known as ‘Sthal’, after passing under the mahadwar we can see the golden kalash perched on its shikar or peak.

The idol of Shri Kamakshi and Shree Laxmi Narayan is taken around the temple premises, every Amavasya or on the new moon day. Thousands of devotees visit this temple for darshan on this day. The procession of Shri Rayeshwar is held in the temple premises on Chaturdarshi or pre-new moon day, and that of Shri Shantadurga on Panchami or fifth day after the new moon day. In addition, the annual festival is held at the temple during the Navratri/Dussehra period and at the time of zatra in spring.

On the day of zatra, around 4.00 am the idol of Shree Kamakshi and Shri Rayeshwar is taken out and kept in the small boat (vhode), here pooja is conducted and later 5 rounds of the pond have to be taken which is called as pradakshana. Later the idol of Shree Kamakshi is taken out on special procession. The divja procession held during the zatra, wherein countless married women walk around the temple in the evening, holding divja or clay lamps. The families whose kuldevi is Shree Kamakshi only they can conduct the divja, with the belief that Shree Kamakshi devi  will protect their family in every difficult situations. During zatra all the village people come together in unity and celebrate the zatra of Shree Kamakashi.

Shirgao Zatra

                                                       Shirgao Zatra

Shree Lairai Temple

One of the most famous zatra in the hindu calender is the fire walking held at Shirgao, near Assanora in the Bicholim taluka. The zatra takes place in early part of May, hundreds of people from the village in surrounding areas, also take part in this celebration. Groups of these villagers from villages such as Maulingem, arrive in the early morning hours and participate in the events throughout the day.

This festival is in celebration of deity Shree Lairai. The deity Shree Lairai in this temple is very uniquely represented. She is symbolized as a copper pot holding a white bud of the “Mogra” flower. The mogra is the special flower that is offered to the diety. Every year a new mogra bud is inserted in the pot and the old one is replaced.

Though Sateri is the presiding deity of Shirgao, goddess Lairaie gained popularity when it was brought to Shirgao. There are around 14 deities being worshiped in Shirgao. It is believed that Lairai of Shirgao is the sister of Mahamaya of Maye, Kelbai of Mulgao, Morjai of Morji, Mirabai, who got converted to Our Lady of Milagres, Mapusa, Shitalai of Mayem and Ajadipa from Anjadipa island. Her lone brother is Khetoba from Vaigaini.

Fire Walkers

The devotees, who are traditionally fire walkers are called as Dhond’s and comprise of gents as well as ladies. Their outfit comprises of dhoti with a towel wrapped around their waist and the colorfully woven cane stick called venth. These Dhond’s follow a very strict procedure in their daily duties. They remain vegetarian for 40 days, after every meal, they bath to purify themselves.

Earlier the place where the fire is lit (bone fire), there used to be a Banyan tree and it was believed that the leaves of these tree would not get signed and the flames reached the heaven.

Fatorpa Zatra

ZATRA

Zatra is a konkani word for the pilgrimage festivals celebrated at Hindu temples in Goa. During the Zatra, the idol or Murtis of the Hindu deity are taken out on special procession either in a "Palkhi" or in a large, multi-storied chariot called the Rath.

FATORPA ZATRA

One of the most famous Zatra of Goa is celebrated at the temple of Shantadurga Kunkolienkarin at Fatorpa in Quepem taluka.  During this festival people from all over Goa come together to worship the deity irrespective of their caste or religion they belong to.

Earlier the temple of Kunkolienkarin was situated in Cuncolim village 12 km away from Margao. During Portugues rule the original temple in Cuncolim was destroyed, but the image of Shantadurga was taken away to Fatorpa. A new temple was built in the village of Fatorpa. But deity remains till today.

The zatra continues for five days during December or January, during Paushya Shuddha Panchami upto Dashmi according to the Hindu calendar.

 The first day is Palkhi where the idol is taken out of the temple on special procession. Second day is called Hatthi Ambari which includes the elephant chariot. Earlier the elephants were used to carry idol of goddess Shantadurga but now artificial elephant, made up of wood is used to carry the idol.

Hatti Ambari of Shree Shantadurga Kunkolienkarin

Third day is flower chariot, in konkani we call it as Fulancho Rath where the rath is fully decorated with flowers, next day is Vijayrath, it is a sign of victory over the evil, made up of horse chariot and finally at the last day we have Maharath where the place experience more crowd of devotees.

It is a festival of unity where there are no constraints of caste, religion etc.