VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
The annual zatra (feast) of Lord Maruti Temple – one of the oldest and most important of zatras – commenced on Monday with thousands of devotees from across the State and across the border expected to flock to the temple to pay obeisance to the deity. The temple, sitting on the slope of Altinho hill, appeared magnificent as it was brightly lit, while stalls at the foot of the hill, along the lanes of Mala, lent a festive atmosphere.
Raghuvir Mahale, whose family is one of the oldest living in the heritage area of Mala said that the first day of the zatra is marked by a grand palanquin procession of the deity. “The palki procession begins at around 4 or 5pm from Vitthoba Temple. It is taken throughout Mala ward and stops at every Hindu house wherein families perform puja and offer prayers. The palki also travels through Rua De Ourem and reaches near the St Francis Xavier Chapel (at Bhatulem) to finally proceed to the (Maruti) temple. It covers the internal lanes,” he said.
The history of the temple dedicated to Lord Maruti reveals that it was built in the early 1930s on the auspicious day of Maagh Shuddha Dashmi. Before the stairway was constructed, a special road was built to facilitate access to the temple. Originally a small temple, a bigger structure overlooking Fontainhas, was constructed over one and half decade ago.
Besides holding several religious events all round the year, the temple’s important festival is the Maruti Jatrotsav that commemorates the foundation day of the temple. “Initially the palanquin procession of the deity was within the precinct of the temple. It thereafter moved from temple to Mala up to Vitthal and Rukmini Temple and further took a turn at the holy venue near People’s High School, to return,” historian Maria de Lourdes Bravo da Costa Rodrigues said in an article describing the festival then and now. She stated that the zatra celebrations started in 1944 and until electrification, the committee provided portable kerosene lamps during the festivity.
Another old resident of Mala and member of the zatra committee Rajendra Bhingui said that people from the adjoining areas turn up to attend the celebration. “The excitement to seek blessings from the God and then walk through the lanes has not declined,” he added.
