VASCO: The 124th annual Damodar Saptah, a religious festival, has begun in Vasco, marked by various traditional rituals and ceremonies. The event commenced on Tuesday, with the placing of a ‘shriphal’ (coconut) at the feet of Lord Damodar at the Shree Damodar Temple in Vasco. This symbolic act was performed by industrialist Prashant Joshi. The ceremony was accompanied by the chanting of devotional prayers like ‘Bola Pundalika Varadhe Hari Vittha’.
The Joshi family’s participation in this ritual was followed by a stream of devotees entering the temple to seek blessings from Lord Damodar. The temple was then closed for about three hours to carry out various solemn rituals without any interruptions.
Prominent individuals, including Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho, Mormugao chairperson Girish Borker, industrialist Narayan Bandekar, and the Joshi family, were present during the ceremonies. The temple committee also live-streamed the rituals, allowing people at home to witness the proceedings.
As part of the Saptah celebrations, a 24-hour
non-stop ‘Damodarbhajan’ (devotional singing and chanting) began on the temple premises. This continuous chanting and singing will culminate today, when the ‘shriphal’ anointed in the temple last year will be taken and immersed in the sea at Kharewado, Vasco.
Prashant Joshi said that this year’s Saptah celebrations will be on a grander scale compared to the subdued celebrations of the past due to the covid-19 pandemic.
In preparation for the festival, the Shree Damodar temple was adorned with decorations. Additionally, a strong plainclothes police force was deployed in the port town to ensure the smooth flow of the festivities and prevent crimes like chain-snatching and eve-teasing. The Mormugao Municipal Council had appealed to the residents of Vasco to opt for alternative modes of transportation, reducing the reliance on personal vehicles for the duration of Saptah, to help manage traffic congestion in the area.
Later in the day, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP State President Sadanand Tanavade visited the temple and sought blessings.