VASCO: The traditional 24-hour-long Saptah celebrations at Damodar temple, Vasco ended on Wednesday afternoon after the sacred coconut kept near the deity was offered to the sea at Khariwado. The procession was followed by ‘Dahi-Kaala’ ritual in the temple which marked the festival’s end but the fair will continue for at least a week.
The festival began on Tuesday with non-stop chanting of bhajans by several bhajan groups. Devotees queued up on Thursday as well as on Wednesday to seek darshan of Lord Damodar.
Meanwhile, citing lack of hygiene, the Food and Drugs Administration had objected to Gobi Manchurian stalls at the fair. However, since these stalls have become a signature feature in most of the fairs including Saptah, MMC based on peoples’ demand had decided to provide space to these stalls near the municipality’s children’s park.
The Gobi Manchurian sellers did not agree with the choice of space and used their ‘lobby’, pressurised civic body to change the allocated space.
The sellers have been allowed to put up their stalls on one condition which is to prepare the food beforehand and then keep it for sale. According to sources, the sellers have now rented some rooms to cook their food.
Some have claimed that the Gobi Manchurian stall owners have the backing of some of the councillors and the picture will become clearer in the upcoming days.