Thane’s Ghodemodni festival draws thousands to Sattari

Poriem MLA Deviya Rane attended the event, performed traditional rituals and worship of the horses, and later offered prayers at the temple.

Valpoi

Thousands of devotees gathered at Thane in Sattari taluka to witness the traditional triennial Ghodemodni festival of the “Seven Brothers.” A spectacular dance performance by 14 decorated horses was presented throughout the night as part of the celebrations. The festival, a major cultural attraction of the region, was held in an enthusiastic atmosphere at the Mandalgiro–Kolgiro ground in Thane. The celebrations concluded in the early hours of Sunday.

The triennial festival of the Mandalgiro–Kolgiro temple was organised with great enthusiasm this year. Devotees and residents from seven villages of the Thane region gathered in large numbers to celebrate the traditional event. Apart from various parts of Goa, devotees from Karnataka and Maharashtra also attended to witness the unique horse dance performance.

Several dignitaries from different fields in Goa were present at the festival. Local MLA Deviya Rane attended the event, performed traditional rituals and worship of the horses, and later offered prayers at the temple.

Large Crowd

Devotees began queuing from the afternoon to seek blessings at the Mandalgiro–Kolgiro temple. Thousands took darshan of the deity. The entire area was decorated with attractive lighting and well-organised arrangements. The festival began around 3 p.m. at the spacious Mandalgiro–Kolgiro ground in the presence of a large gathering.

‘Haatbhet’ Ceremony

A total of 14 horses participate in the Ghodemodni festival. Horses from different temples are ceremonially brought to the festival ground and welcomed by the Thane temple committee in a ritual known as “Haatbhet” (ceremonial greeting). This ceremony began around 3 p.m. on Saturday with traditional musical instruments. Horses arriving from different areas were ritually worshipped and formally welcomed.

Horse Dance

The grand dance performance of the 14 horses started at about 5 p.m. on Saturday. The synchronised dance, performed to the rhythm of traditional music, became a major attraction. Devotees enthusiastically followed the horses as they performed, creating a visually captivating spectacle.

Devotees Fulfil Vows

Many devotees also gathered to fulfil vows made to the deity during the triennial festival. The horses were ceremonially worshipped and honoured with shawls, while devotees offered ritual items and prayers. The vow-fulfilment rituals, including the traditional “Sangne” offerings made publicly by families, continued for nearly three hours.