By RAMESH SAVAIKAR

The Pandurang temple of Vithalapur-Sanquelim, which celebrated 500 years of its existence three years ago, is known as the Pandharpur of Goa. The idols of Vithal and Rakhumai were brought to Goa from Pandharpur some 500 years ago by devotees (varkari).

Various festivals are celebrated in this temple. One of the main festivals of this temple is celebrated in the full-moon fortnight of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar–the Chaitri utsav.

This 6-day long festival begins on dashi and concludes on full moon day, poornima.

This year Chaitri utsav will be celebrated from Thursday, March 25 to Tuesday, March 30. Devotees from different parts of the state visit the temple to seek the blessings of God Vithal and Rakhumai. Various religious rituals like abhishekas, pooja, arti, mahaprasad are performed. Later, a palanquin procession of idols of Vithal-Rakhumai is held. The Rane family from Sanquelim enjoys the honour of carrying the palanquin.

Dramas are held each night and a big fair is erected on the temple grounds.

The priest of the temple and veda scholar, Mr Ramkrisnna shastri Bakre informed the ‘Navhind times’ that the Chaitri festival has a historic as well as Hindu mythological importance. According to Hindu mythology, Raja Dakshys had performed dakhshya yagya, for which he invited his daughter Parvati but not Lord Shiva. However, Parvati along with Lord Shankar went to attend the yagya, where Lord Shankar was insulted. The angry Lord Shiva created the demon ‘Virbadra’ from his matted locks who then battled with the King’s forces and destroyed the yagya. This victory is celebrated on Chaitra Poornima. A chariot procession is then held to mark this victory.

Besides this, the idol Vithal-Rakhumai was installed on chaitra poornima.

The decorated temple of Vithal-Rakhumai, the palanquin procession, Virbhadra, the chariot procession, the dashavatari dramas and the big fair are some of the highlights of this 6-day long Chaitri festival.