Tourism
of Goa
Fairs
& Festivals ::
Hindu
Festival
Ganesh
Chaturthi or ChovothThe
most important and almost the national festival for Goan's is the Ganesh
Chaturthi known as 'Chovoth'.
The festivities run into several
days, but minimum at least for two and half days, when puja of Gouri and
Mahadev along with Ganapati, is performed. Goddess Gouri is drawn on paper
and Lord Shiva symbolised by a coconut.
On these days married
women fast. On the Chovoth day, in the morning or evening, a clay idol of
Ganapati is brought home. Before that a matov (a small pandal above the
place where the idol is place) is prepared with bunches of betel nut,
coconut, bananas and branches of mango-trees being necessary ingredients of
it. The puja of Ganapati goes on until mid-day. The puja is performed with
the help of the priest.
On the second day, in the evening or at
night, after performing the uttar puja of the image of Ganapati, it is taken
in procession and immersed into a water body be it the sea, creek, river,
lake or well. Before the idol is removed from its stand for immersion, it is
besought for the welfare of the household and its members.
Three
days of Chovoth means, days of great rejoicing for children. Girls collect
different types and shapes of leaves for Gauri, Mahadev and Ganapati. There
is competition in flower-making also. At least five vegetables are cooked on
that day. Aartis is a special performance on the occasion of the Ganapati
festival.
On Panchami (fifth) day, in the evening, crowds of
people move around the village to have a look at Ganapati. Women of the
masses, dance and sing the Fugdi before Ganapati. Some houses keep Ganapati
for five, seven or nine days and rarely up to Anant Chaturdashi.
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