CANACONA
A unique traditional festival to honour Shree Betal observed every three years was celebrated in Poinguinim on Saturday.
Amidst a highly charged ritualistic atmosphere rooted in local customs and beliefs, this utsav is held periodically marking the vibrant rituals, including fire ceremonies, processions, and offerings to deities.
As the main festivities unfolded at Shri Betal Temple, Poinguinim, ‘Ghode’ four males dressed in white dhoti and turban sword in right hand and piece of cloth in other hand came dancing on the beats of ancient songs with dhol and taso along with other devotees in the temple.
The ghode alongwith their companions sang and danced with their swords in front of the temple. The four ghode are pierced with a metal hook into their back muscles and other devotees from their community are pierced with a needle onto the skin of their stomach.
The ghode than climbed the Khamb raised 45 feet above the ground holding their sword and piece of cloth, then tied to the arms of the ‘Raat’ atop the two wooden poles and the Raat is rotated for sometime, before the Ghode are brought down and taken to the temple ending the highly auspicious ritual.
The 22 days ritual is participated by 26 different sects/castes from the three villages of Poinguinim, Loliem and Kharegal, and the ghode are believed to be divine warriors possessed by divine energy with spiritual beliefs.
For the first year ‘evni’ ritual is performed, while 'Ttakaa' is done for the second year and the Ghodeachi zatra is celebrated every third year at Shri Betal Temple.
Thousands of devotees thronged to witness this unique utsav this year.
