Goa: Witness the Shirgaon jatra

In Goa almost in every village jatrotsav is held, but all the jatras are not famous all over Goa. Most of them are known in the surrounding areas, but few like the Ajobachi jatra of Keri- Pernem, Bodgeshwar jatra of Mapusa and Lairaidevi jatra of Shirgaon are famous all over the state.

Goa: Shirgaon jatra

The Shirgaon jatra which will be celebrated on April 19 is also famous as Dhonanchi jatra or Homkhanachi jatra. The jatra celebrations begin with the invocation of Lord Ganesh on Chaitra Shudha Amavashay. On the eve of jatra in the afternoon koul (blessing) is taken from the Goddess Lairai, after that the people proceed to a place called Muddi on the boundary of Shirgao village and clean that place.

On the day of 'jatra' (Vaisha Shudha Panchami) in the morning the main 'pujari' Joshi takes out the 'kalash' (sacred pot) early in the morning at around 7.30 a.m. and distribute the 'tirth' (holy water) to the villagers. The golden idol of Goddess Lairai which is kept in the Joshi's house is taken in a 'peth' (box) by the 22 Chowgules (people in the village having important position in the 'jatra' celebrations) to the temple and the idol is removed from the 'peth' and placed in the 'patlo' (basket made from bamboo) and the idol is covered with cloth.

After praying to the goddess the idol is taken to Muddi by the Joshi 'pujari'. The musicians, Chowgules and the Dhonds (devotees of the goddess) accompany him. At Muddi the new Dhonds take blessing from the Goddess and this programme of taking blessing goes from around 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Once the blessing programme is over the idol is taken back to the main temple and the Chowgules along with 'pujari' go to the Sateri temple to offer raw food stuff to Aaba Brahman (it is believed he is the first Brahman) so that he does not bring any obstruction during the 'jatra' celebrations.

Once they are back to the temple other rituals are performed and then the 'kalash' is decorated with 'patkoli' and 'kudo' flowers and the Chowgules bring it to the 'mandap' (courtyard) and the pujari takes it on his head to 'Vadakade' and lights the 'homkhand'. The devi (goddess) proceeds from there to 'Dhonachi Tali' (tank) and pours water three times using 'kalash' cap into the tank and then takes rest at Moddi. During the resting period that is around 2 a.m. to 5.30 a.m. the Dhonds numbering thousands have bath in the 'Dhonachi Tali' and seek blessing from the Goddess and walk through the sacred fire barefoot, which is the main attraction of the 'jatra'. Thousands of people throng to Shirgao to witness the walking of Dhonds through the fire.

If a Dhond is hurt while going through the fire, he has to take blessing from the Goddess and it is believed that he will be cured within few days. The Devi is the last to go through the fire. The preparations of the 'jatra' begin several days before the 'jatra' day. The 'koul' is given to the villagers by the Goddess in the next four days of the 'jatra'. The raw food stuff which was given to the Aaba Brahman is cooked and eaten on the fourth day of the 'koul' and the 'kalash' is kept back in the temple. With this the 'jatra' which is celebrated with traditional fervour comes to an end.