the goan I network
MARGAO
An air of excitement has descended in Cuncolim on Sunday. Hectic activity was witnessed at the mandaps while people with brooms and water poured out ahead of the big day.
Reason: Cuncolkars irrespective of caste and creed, are bracing up to celebrate the annual Sotreo festival and welcome goddess Shantadurga to her native place on Monday. In fact, Sunday saw the mandaps at Taleabhat, Buinsa and along the route from Fatorpa to Cuncolim being decorated to welcome Shantadurga Kuncolikarin to her native village. Volunteers were seen tying in the Matollis consisting of fruits, vegetables and tender coconuts at the mandap.
The mandap, which will play host to the palanquin of Shree Shantadurga Kuncolikarin as the procession enters the area from Fatorpa before heading to Taleabhat, receive a fresh coat of paint ahead of the Sotreo festivities. Devotees say that Goddess Shantadurga Kuncolikarin was originally from Cuncolim and her temple located at Taleabhat. To escape from the religious persecution and forced conversions of temples and the local populace, devotees, sources said, decided to take the goddess to Fatorpa.
Sotreo festival is celebrated in Cuncolim coinciding with Shigmotsav on the Panchami day of Phalguna month. The procession carrying the palanquin of goddess Shantadurga starts at 1.30 pm at the Shantadurga temple at Fatorpa, before the procession wends its way to Cuncolim via the traditional route. Members of the 12 vangods of the Gaonkars of Cuncolim comprising Mahal, Xetkar, Naik, Mongro, Sombro, Thombddo, Porob, Sidhakali, Locakali, Bandekar, Rouno, and Bhenclo, carry the umbrellas as they dance with the colourfully decorated sotreos to the beats of drums.
While the main festivity takes place at Taleabhat-Cuncolim near the Cuncolim Municipal Council, the procession makes several halts along the route for the thousands of devotees to offer prayers to the deity and seek her blessings.
Sotreo festival is celebrated by both Hindus and Catholic communities with pomp and gaiety every year as they await for the goddess Shantadurga Kuncolikarin to visit her native place and shower blessings on the people.
