the goan I network
VASCO
The 120th Shree Damodar Bhajani Saptah, one of the biggest festivals in the port town, began on Tuesday with the installation of a ‘Srifal’ (coconut) at the feet of Lord Damodar in Shree Damodar temple in Vasco.
The Srifal was placed by Parag Joshi and devotees and committee members began the traditional rituals which will continue uninterrupted for the next 24 hours till Wednesday afternoon.
President of the Vasco Damodar Saptah Committee Jagdish Dhurbatkar, other committee members, MMC Chairperson Nandadeep Raut and other councillors were also present during the placing of the Srifal at the feet of Lord Damodar.
As is usually witnessed, a large number of devotees were seen in queues outside the temple, as people from all walks of life and from different corners of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka arrived to seek the blessings of Lord Damodar.
The Saptah also attracts a number of devotees from different religions, who throng the temple to offer their prayers to the Gram Daivat of Vasco Shri Damodar.
The huge number of devotees were seen visiting the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Damodar and this queue will continue all through the night.
The Annaprasad function at Vasco during the Saptah saw a huge crowd relishing the food offered to devotees.
Volunteers ensured that there was no congestion or rush at the hall while devotees ate the Annaprasad.
The streets and by-lanes of Vasco along the Swatantra Path, which were decorated with lighting and decorations, were full of makeshift stalls selling various sweets (khajem), clothes and garments, toys and other products, including traditional Goan furniture. These makeshift stalls, which would remain present around the temple for the next seven days, attract tourists and visitors from different corners of Goa.
Decorated floats on mythological themes were brought in procession along with Dindi to the temple from various parts of the port town by different groups of the community.
These different groups leading the floats then enter the temple and take turns to sing the bhajans uninterrupted for the next 24 hours.
Several arrangements were in place by the municipal council, police and traffic police.
The police also kept a close eye on footages from various CCTV cameras installed at different locations in Vasco city.
The 24-hour Damodar Bhajani Saptah will conclude on Wednesday when the holy Srifal anointed the previous year at the Lord Damodar’s feet will be taken in procession along with dindi and dipped in the sea and the procession returns to the temple along with the devotees.
On Wednesday, the sacred coconut used during the previous year will be taken in a procession around the city, before being released in the sea at Kharewada on the concluding hours of Saptah celebration.
The sacred coconut along with a troupe of dancers also known as ‘Gopal-Kala’ go around the city, visiting residences of prominent citizens. Some families also sprinkle water while standing atop terraces or balconies and drench the dancing Gopal-Kala.
Like most festivals and auspicious events, this festival has a story behind its inception.
According to information, an epidemic in the city in 1889 had compelled locals to seek the blessings of Lord Damodar. They went to Zambaulim temple and brought a coconut (srifal) in form of prasad to be installed for worship in Vasco. People believe that this act miraculously wiped out the epidemic, spreading the fervour and devotion to Lord Damodar. Since then, Saptah has been celebrated in Vasco every year on the 6th day of Shravan month.
