The Gadyachi Jatra - a tribute to the ghosts and holy spirits. Though science does not believe in the existence of life after death, many cultures in the world have a lot of rituals dedicated to ghosts and spirits. In many parts of Goa various cultural and religious ceremonies are performed to appease. Shigmo is considered the most appropriate occasion to express gratitude to ghosts and spirits in Goa. The Gadyachi jatra of Sal, Borde-Bicholim, Pilgao, Kudne, Savoi-Verem are about ghosts (bhuta) and holy spirits (devchar). In Poinguinim, Canacona, there is a Betal temple which is also associated with the Gadyachi jatra that is celebrated in April once in three years. Four males dressed in a white dhoti, known as gade, take part in the ceremony along with other devotees. A document written on cloth in 1823 AD is read out on the occasion. In front of the Betal temple a tall platform of areca nut trunks is erected on which the gade are suspended by hooks to a revolving wheel. Only when the audience declare to the mall gaddo that they are satisfied are the gade set free. Sal in Bicholim is famous for Gadyachi jatra which attracts a large crowd from Goa and the border areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka. On the day of holi pournima, a wooden trunk of a mango tree which is decorated with mango leaves is erected near the Mahadev temple. As per the Hindu tradition, Mahadev is believed to be the god of ghosts. On the second night of holi the persons dressed in the white dhoti assemble at the sacred place called mand. As soon as a crowd (romat) comes to the mand dancing to the beats of dhol and taso, the villagers invoke blessings of all the deities of the village. Elderly people sit nearby singing non-stop folk songs called naman to the beats of dhol. 52 persons also known as gade belonging to Raut, Parab, Naik, Ghure, Mhale, Mesta communities dressed in dhotis move around the pole which is erected on the mand. It is believed that under the trance they all run in the direction of the hill wherein they are taken into the forest by a mysterious torch shown by the spirit called devchar. Sometimes he lights the torch on the top of the tree, then suddenly on the ground. The lighting and extinguishing process of the torch mesmerizes the people who come specially to witness this phenomenon. In the past, all together 64 gades took part in the Gadyanchi jatra but now only 52 participate in the three-night fair, says Pandurang Krishna Parab of Sal. For the three nights the devchar shows chudti or torch. He also hides a few gades on trees or inside the temple. On these nights the hidden gades who are unconscious are handed over by the devchar to other gades by lighting the torch. Afterward they are brought to the sacred place. The unconscious gades return to their senses when sacred water is poured into their mouth. During the whole night these gades go to all the places where the holy spirits reside. They also visit the crematorium and carry remnants of burnt dead bodies in their hands for some time along with the votive clay figures. The Kudne Gadyanchi jatra is held for three nights without lighting any type of lamp, whereas in Sal lighting of lamps is allowed. Rohidas Pal from Borde Bicholim says, We have continued the tradition of Gadyanchi jatra with the intention of ridding off the wrath of ghosts and evil spirits. Though science does not believe in the existence of life after death, many cultures in the world have a lot of rituals dedicated to ghosts and spirits. In many parts of Goa various cultural and religious ceremonies are performed to appease. The Shigmo festival is considered to be the most appropriate occasion to express gratitude to the ghosts and holy spirits in Goa. The Gadyachi jatra of Sal, Borde -Bicholim, Pilgao, Kudne, Savai - Vere are involved around the ghosts (bhuta) and holy spirits (devchar). In Poinguini of Cancona, there is a Betal temple which is associated also with the Gadyachi jatra that is celebrated in April once in three years. Four male persons who are dressed in the white dhoti are called as Gade take part in the ceremony along with other devotees. A document written on cloth in 1823 A.D. is read out on the occasion. In front of Betal temple a tall platform of areca nut trunks is erected on which Gade are made to suspend by means of hooks to a revolving wheel, and they are set free, when the audience, on being asked by the Mall Gaddo declared that they are satisfied. 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. In Kudne Gadyanchi Jatra is held for three nights with out lighting any type of lamp, where as in Sal lighting of lamp is allowed. Rohidas Pal from Borde Bicholim says, We have continued the tradition of Gadyanchi Jatra with the intention to get rid off wrath of ghosts and evil spirits. Source: TOI, GoaNews
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:35:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015