Sal in Bicholim is famous for Gadyachi Jatra which attracts a big crowd from Goa and border areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka. On day of Holi Pournima, a wooden trunk of mango tree which is decorated in mango leaves is made to stand near Mahadev temple. As per the Hindu tradition, Mahadev is believed to be the god of ghosts and holy a well as evil spirits who prefer to meditate in the crematorium. On the second day of Holi at the night persons who are dressed in the white dhoti assemble at the sacred place called mand. As soon as a crowd (romat) comes to the mand dancing on the beats of dhol and taso, the villagers invoke for blessing of all the deities of the village. The elderly persons sit nearby singing non-stop folk song called naman on the beats of dhol., 52 persons known as Gade belonging to Raut, Parab, Naik, Ghure, Mhale, Mesta communities are dressed in dhoti moves around the pole which is erected as the Holi on the mand. It is believed that under the trance they all run in the direction of hill where in they are taken in to the forest by showing mysterious torch by the spirit called Devchar. Sometimes he lights the torch on the top of the tree, then suddenly on the ground. Lighting and extinguishing process of torch mesmerizes the people who specially come to witness this phenomenon. In past all together 64 Gades were taking part in the Gadyanchi Jatra but now only 52 Gades participates in the three nights fair, says Pandurang Krishna Parab of Sal. For the three nights the Devchar shows Chudti or torch. He also hides few persons known as Gade on the tree or inside the temple premises. On that night or on the next two nights these hidden Gades who are unconscious are handed over by the Devchar to other Gades by lighting the torch. Afterward they are brought on the sacred place. The unconscious Gades return to their senses when the sacred water is poured into their mouth who then participates with other Gades. These Gades during the whole night goes to all places where the holy spirits are residing. They also visit to the crematorium and carry remnants of burnt dead body in their hands for some time along with the votive clay figures. - Goa Rockers
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 08:36:16 +0000
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