SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
The worship of the Dambaba ceremonial coconut marks the beginning of the five-day annual Shishirotsav of Shree Damodar Sansthan, culminating with 'Dhulpet' on 3rd April. Dambaba ceremonial coconut will be taken in procession around Margoa city, later to the Damodar Sansthan at Zambaulim on Thursday. The highlight of the Dambaba Shigmotsav is Gulal, which will be celebrated on 2nd April.
Mohit Pandurang Keny said that it is believed that the deity “Lord Damodar” was taken from Margao and sheltered in Zambaulim. Before taking it to Zambaulim it was briefly kept at residence in Comba Margao. He added that we have followed This ritual for more than 100 years. To this day, a coconut is first worshiped at our residence where thousands of devotees gather here before proceeding with religious fervor to Zambaulim. Owing to the origin of the deity and the whole shifting from Margao to Zambaulim, people from Margao consider it their obligation to take part in the Shigmo celebrations and the Gulalotsav all the way to Zambaulim.
five days long festivities start with coconut puja from the Keni house and the religious procession leads to Zambaulim where the Mahajans of deity Lord Damodar hand over the running of the temple to the Madgaokars for a week and takes it back on the last day of shigmo during the Dhulvhat celebration. Thousands of devotees are also offered mahaprasad throughout the week.
Plays are performed and the deity is brought and kept in front of the temple. Before the start of the plays, certain prayers are recited. The most important ritual on Gulalotsav is the ritual of the Navro Vakal which is a unique marriage performed at every Shigmotsav in Goa.
