VASCO
The 124th Shree Damodar Bhajani Saptah, one of the biggest festivals in the port town, began on Wednesday afternoon, when Prashant Joshi installed the ‘Shreefal’ (coconut) at the feet of Lord Damodar at Shree Damodar temple in Vasco.
The celebration was carried out on a grand scale this year after a gap of two years on account of the Covid pandemic.
As per traditional rituals and the installation of Shreefal by the Joshi Family, only a few people were allowed to enter the temple as the temple was closed between 11 am to 2 pm for visitors to carry out traditional rituals without hindrance.
Those inside the temple included committee members and family members of the Joshi Family. Among the few who were present in the temple were Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar and Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, industrialist Narayan Bandekar, a representative of the Paar Groups and Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Leo Rodrigues.
The visuals of the traditional rituals were also live-streamed by the temple committee.
A huge number of devotees were seen standing outside the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Damodar on the occasion of Saptah.
The first set of bhajans were performed after the Shreefal was placed at the feet of Lord Damodar to start the 24-hour non-stop bhajan in the temple during Saptah. This 24-hour Damodar Bhajani Saptah will conclude on Thursday when then holy Shreefal anointed the previous year at the Lord’s feet will be taken and dipped in the sea at Kharewaddo.
“We initially decided to close the temple for visitors between 11 am and 2 pm to systematically carry out the rituals but with the huge rush of the people, we opened the temple for devotees immediately after the rituals were over,” said Joshi.
“We have also shifted the flower vendors from the temple to a different location so that the devotees can enter the temple in a smooth manner,” said Joshi.
Saptah Samiti President Krishna Sonurlekar said there was a wave of happiness across port town as the festival was being celebrated on a grand scale.
“People are extremely happy to visit the temple and offer prayers and the festival is a success because of the cooperation of all stakeholders, including various groups of Paar that participate in the festival every year.”
“The festival has united all people in Vasco and the Saptah has begun on a great note . We also had a musical performance outside the temple last night and we will have musical programmes today as well near Natraj theatre and Sai Baba Temple,” said Sonurlekar.
