World Wetlands Day 2025 was observed recently under the theme of ‘Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future.’ Such events and days make us aware about our backyard biodiversity which otherwise we may not be aware of. However, if we look at our festivals and rituals they also speak about the similar values and why it is necessary to worship certain elements of nature.
Khazan lands which are integral to it are also protected by various rituals and festivals. One such ritual is of Maange Thapni which was recently held in a few villages around Ponda. On this day, few agrarian communities of Goa come together to worship crocodile by sculpting a crocodile made from the mud of khazan land and it is worshipped. Villagers believe that these crocodiles, actually does the job of safeguarding the ‘bunds’ or dykes and thus protecting their fields. So, as a mark of respect this ritual is held.
Adulshe, a village near Bori in Ponda taluka, does this ritual every year. The event begins around late afternoon when men of this village come together on the bandh and start collecting mud from the backwaters. This mud is then sculpted and given a shape of a crocodile. It is then decorated with shells, dry grass sticks—all the ingredients found at this bandh itself. After sculpting, rituals like five coconuts are offered and then an egg is inserted inside the sculpted crocodile. The ritual culminates by offering prasad to the villagers.
This particular place where it is held is near the agricultural field of ‘Devati Katar’, who is believed to belong to goddess Navdurga.
Harish Muli, whose family is involved in this ritual of Maange Thapni informs that this ritual is performed by the by 24 members of the village. Thus, there is a custom of keeping an account of same. The one who missed, they have to pay a nominal fine.
Nowadays villagers has stopped cultivating its fields where they used to grow salt tolerant variety of rice, but the practice continues as there is a strong belief that these crocodiles are the protectors of these khazan lands and also to protect villagers from any untoward incident of crocodile attack.
Wildlife rescuer Charan Desai who has been documenting this ritual for many years informs, “This time of year is the mating season of crocodiles. Thus, they are seen more in and around human settlement as they leave their territory in search of a mate.” He adds that this ritual is also held in villages of Durbhat, Talauli, Bhoma, Kundai, in Ponda taluka.
In Goa, we find only one species of crocodile which is the Mugger (Crocodylus palustris). It is a freshwater crocodile but in Goa it has adapted to brackish waters. Regarding these muggars, it has been suggested that they were introduced either by Adil Shah Dynasty or by Portuguese in Tiswadi taluka as a form of defence against the enemies coming from the sea. However, Charan maintains that as there is a strong tradition of crocodile worship in Goa so probably they were found even before Adil Shah Dynasty in Goa.
Environmentalist, Rajendra Kerkar states, “I found 1000 year old stone sculpture of goddess Mahishasur Mardini along with crocodile in Dhamshe village. Also in Zarme village in old temple remains carved crocodiles are seen on wooden pillars. So, crocodiles are part and parcel of Goa’s tradition. Crocodile were there before Portuguese rule. They might have used them for protecting Banastarim area. That’s why the Cumbharjua canal today is known as crocodile bank.” This ritual also indicates worshipping of a predator as crocodiles are otherwise feared.
Vidya Kamat, member-secretary of the Centre for Study of Mythology and Culture (CSMC), says, “It is sort of a peace treaty where there is a respect for every species and also following the principal of live and let live and drawing boundaries for them. It is like acknowledging their presence and respecting their space. The knowledge which we are forgetting in today’s generation and which we need to learn from such rituals.”
(Arti Das is a freelance journalist based in Goa)