Members of Vasco Market Association posing before the newly built Mahalaxmi temple.
Photo Credits: Vikram Nayak
VASCO
There was jubilation among vendors of the Vasco Municipal market after a new Mahalaxmi idol was installed in the newly built Mahalaxmi temple.
The market association had decided to take up construction of the temple inside the market premises and the idol of Goddess Mahalaxmi, considered to be the deity of wealth and prosperity, was installed in the temple amid rituals.
According to the Market Association President Gurudas Tirodkar, the market existed prior to 1961 and some vendors had gathered to form a market association.
"The market association was formed sometime in 1962 and it was also decided to have a Laxmi puja annually at a location in the centre of the market. Initially for around 10 years, we did the Laxmi Puja by only using a photo but then later we got a wooden Ghudi and installed the photo inside.”
“About ten years later, we got a marble structure built with a small idol and we then decided to have a small temple for the market at the same place. It has been 55 years that we have begun celebrating Laxmi Puja and finally we have built our own temple at this premises.”
“Work on this temple had begun earlier, but had been pending due to the lockdown,” said Tirodkar.
The Vasco Market Association Narayan Mendegalkar said they had brought the Mahalaxmi idol and had kept it at the VMA president’s house while work was underway at the temple.
“We took the idol for a procession with dindi in the entire market before it was installed in the temple,” said Mendegalkar.
