Tripurari Poornima is a Hindu festival celebrated on the Poornima (full moon) day or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik. The name ‘Tripurari’ comes from the one who slayed the demon Tripurasur, who in turn got the name from the three Puras (cities) he had created
A legend related to the festival says that Lord Shiva killed the demon king Tripurasura who had conquered the whole world, defeated the devas and had also created three cities in space, called Tripura. Lord Shiva also annihilated the cities.
This great victory was achieved on a full moon day in the Kartik month and hence, the day is celebrated as Tripurari Poornima. This event brought so much joy to the devas who celebrated it by lighting lamps.
This day is also celebrated as the birthday of Brinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant and of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati’s elder son Kartikeya, the god of war.
THE CELEBRATIONS
Tripurari Poornima is celebrated with much religious fervour all over the State, but special celebrations have been held for over 20 years at Vithala Rakhumai temple along the banks of the Valvanti river in Vithalapur, Sankhali.
The entire programme has both religious and cultural features. Vithala temple is illumined with lamps. The venue is given a festive look, the steps to the river illumined with diyas and adequate arrangements made for spectators to watch the show.
Traditionally, villagers would float earthen lamps placed in dronas (cups made of thick dry leaves) in the river but over the years it has taken the form of a ‘Boat Festival.’
This is possibly due to its relationship with the sail boats of the Far East traders, during the erstwhile dynastic periods.
An effigy of Tripurasur is kept at one end of the river on a silt bed. A makeshift stage is floated in the river for the actors playing the role of Shiva, Parvati and Tripurasur to entertain people with their dialogues.
The programme starts with idol of Lord Vithal being carried down to the river bank in a royal palanquin amid chanting to the accompaniment of traditional music and placed on a specially prepared seating, opposite the river bed till the end of the Boat Competition, as if to witness the celebrations.
Symbolically, a traditional drone diya made of cardboard, thermacol or wood and decorated with colours and lights, is still given a place of pride by floating it in the river much before the boat competition begins.
A cultural programme follows that includes songs by well-known artistes, performances of various Goan traditional folk dances, such as Goff, Dhalo, Tonyamel, Veerbhadra, Samai Dance, etc.
The last item on the programme is the ‘Boat Competition.’ Boats brought for the competition are of different shapes and sizes. Some are miniature replicas of actual ships, some simple, traditional crafts, some designed as mermaids and as a humble hut, others designed with traditional themes like the Ravana carrying the Shivalinga or a saint being carried in a palanquin,. Most are decorated with colourful papers and even have small lights fitted inside them.
These boats are then sailed, without support to stay afloat, from their mooring at one end to the other side and in front of the huge crowd. They keep taking rounds in front of the audience.
Then, they are paraded before the jury and then set afloat in the river and the best among them are awarded prizes. Lanterns are also floated in the sky at regular intervals. Before the prize ceremony, the effigy of the demon Tripurasur is set on fire, which is followed by fireworks. This brings the festival to a logical end.
The government arranges special trips for this festival and also encourages it by giving generous prizes to the winners.
However on account of the Covid pandemic, the government this year has decided to cancel the Boat Competition and also cultural programmes on the occasion of Tripurari festival at Vithalapur, Sankhali,
Tripurari Poornima is also celebrated at Shri Saptakoteshwar temple (Narvem), Santeri temple (Nanoda), Shri Shantadurga temple (Gaunkar wada) and at Mayem Lake.
(The writer is former director of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr at Porvorim)
