The Shigmo festival is considered to be the most appropriate occasion to express gratitude to the ghosts and holy spirits in Goa. The Gadyachi jatra of Sal, Borde-Bicholim, Pilgao, Kudne, Savoi-Verem is thus all about these ghosts and holy spirits (devchar).
Sal in Bicholim attracts large crowds from Goa and across the border. On the day of holi pournima, a wooden trunk is decorated with mango leaves and erected near the Mahadev temple. As per Hindu tradition, Mahadev is believed to be the god of ghosts. On the second night of holi, people dressed in the white dhoti assemble at the sacred place called mand. As soon as a crowd (romat) comes to the mand dancing to the beats of dhol and taso, the villagers invoke blessings of all the deities of the village.
Elderly people sit nearby singing non-stop folk songs called naman' to the beats of dhol. 52 persons known as gades (designated male devotees dressed in white dhoti and who are said to attain the avatar (manifestation of the god)) belonging to Raut, Parab, Naik, Ghure, Mhale, Mesta communities take part in the ceremony. Though other devotees are also present they cannot participate directly in the zatra.
It is believed that under a trance, these 52 gades all run in the direction of the hill wherein they are taken into the forest by a mysterious torch shown by the spirit called devchar. The gades visit crematoriums and carry remnants of burnt dead bodies around along with votive clay figures.
This goes on for three nights. Some gades are found unconscious on trees or inside the temple. These are then carried by the remaining gades and brought to the mand. They are said to return to their senses when sacred water is poured into their mouth.
During this event the whole village is covered with darkness. Not even street lights or light emitting from mobile phones are allowed.
