PANJIM: Despite opposition
from the locals, the Shri Navadurga temple committee from Madkai has decided to
go ahead and replace the idol of
deity Shri Navadurga, stating that the old idol has developed cracks.
Addressing media persons on Wednesday, committee president Vallabh Kamat
said that though the people are opposing the idol’s replacement, the committee
has not received any official communication in that regard and hence has
decided to go ahead and install the new idol on March 3.
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Alleging that the opposition is a conspiracy by a few who have vested
interests, Kamat said the committee has taken due and appropriate action by
following legal, social and religious aspects in deciding to replace the old
idol. “The seven Wadekars (village committees) have also been taken into
confidence while deciding on replacing the idol,” he said.
“The temple has been in existence for the last 450 years and during this
period three idols were changed and the present one is the fourth idol. In
1983-84, cracks were seen on the idol by the poojaries (priest) and the same
was brought to the notice of the committee,” Kamat said, ruling out the claims
of the locals that the idol is over 800 years.
Kamat said that from 1998 to 2004, several attempts were made by the
committee for its replacement, after due consultation at all levels and with
the approval of the general body and ‘Koul Prasad’. “However, each time the deity
refused to give assent. Subsequently the committee decided to honour the ‘Koul
Prasad’ and deferred the action,” he explained.
Accordingly, in October 2013 a general body meeting was called to
deliberate on the issue and on December 22, 2013, the deity’s assent was given
in the presence of 35 committee members and many devotees. “The committee
thereafter explored all pros and cons and completing all the required
formalities decided to entrust the work to a sculptor for installing the fifth
idol,” he said.
