Team Herald
PONDA: Eight years after the contentious Navadurga Temple and idol dispute first surfaced, villagers and devotees of Madkai have called for a public meeting on December 19 to discuss the recent High Court verdict and decide on approaching the Supreme Court.
The meeting, organised by the Devi Navdurga Pratishthan at 4 pm at Madkai Panchayat Hall, comes in the wake of the High Court quashing the previous trial court’s decision, which had stayed the replacement of the idol. The HC upheld the plea of the temple Mahajans, citing their rights under the Mahajan Act governing temples in Goa. The court has provided six weeks time to approach the Supreme Court.
Shailendra Panjikar, President of Devi Navadurga Pratishthan, explained, “The meeting has been called following the dismissal of our complaint by the High Court. We now have six weeks to decide on approaching the Supreme Court. The participation of all devotees and stakeholders is vital.”
Meanwhile, Marcaim Nagrik Kruti Samiti president Premanand Gaude questioned the Mahajans’ claims. “If the Mahajans have resolved not to replace the idol, they should make public the meeting records and copies of resolutions,” he said.
Notably, banners reading “Amchi Murthi Amkam Zai” (We Want Our Idol) have been displayed across Marcaim, inviting villagers and devotees from across Goa to participate in the crucial meeting.
The temple committee had earlier announced, via a press release, the cancellation of the decision to replace the idol and appealed for cooperation from all stakeholders. However, with emotions running high and the villagers’ trust in question, the issue remains a matter of public sentiment and legal debate.
Forum wants Portuguese-era
Mahajan Act scrapped
PONDA: Madkai Nagrik Kruti Samiti said the Mahajan Act governing temples in Goa is a Portuguese era Act which was adopted and continued by the Goa Government.
Samiti president Premanand Gaude said, “As per old provisions of law only male descendants can become Mahajans of the temple. The Mahajan Act says women cannot become members of temples, which violates the principle of equal rights for women. The Goa Assembly should discuss scrapping the Act or bringing an amendment so that villagers concerned with local deities can actively participate in performing rituals, palkhi processions, rathotsav, etc and get the rights to
manage temples.”
He said temples should be public property as funds are raised by the public and festivals take place through their active participation
in the rituals.