As the holy month of Shravan began on
Sunday, devout Goan Hindus bid goodbye to the good ol’ fish curry rice and all
forms of meat, promising themselves that they will, or try their best to,
abstain from indulging in non-vegetarian diet for the next one month. Although
the month of Shravan is significant for the number of auspicious dates it comes
with, it is best known as the time to go veg and welcome Goa’s favourite Lord
Ganesh in Hindu households, post the conclusion of the month. Nikhil Chari, a
student from Bicholim, says, “There’s something different about the kind of
vegetarian food prepared during Shravan. It tastes nothing like the usual veg
food prepared otherwise. Maybe, this is God’s way of making us appreciate
vegetarian food.”
Shravan, is the time to celebrate several
festivals like Nagpanchami, Gokulashtami, Narali Pournima and Raksha Bandhan.
Besides, each day of the week, barring Wednesdays in most cases, is dedicated
to a god or goddess. On Monday, dedicated to Lord Shiva, a ritual called Shiva
Muth is carried out where a handful of rice is worshipped. On Tuesday, the day
of Mangalagaur, newly wed Brahmin girls worship goddess Parvati, while Thursday
is dedicated to Dattatraya, the trinity god.
According to mythology, the churning of
oceans or Samudra Manthan took place in the month of Shravan and it is on a
Somvar that Lord Shiva consumed the poison to save the world. In order to minimise
the effect of poison, the Lords had offered the Ganges water to Lord Shiva.
Because of this on Shravana Somvar in Shiva Temples the Shivalinga is bathed
with holy water. It is believed that one can please Lord Shiva in Shravan month
by offering milk.
Key festivals celebrated during Shravan:
–
Nagpanchami
–
Gokulashtami
–
Narali Pournima
–
Raksha Bandhan
