Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: The 127th edition of the Shree Damodar Bhajani Saptah, one of Vasco’s oldest and most revered religious festivals, began on Tuesday with the traditional installation of the ‘Srifal’ (coconut) at the feet of Lord Damodar at the Shree Damodar Temple.
The auspicious ritual was performed by Prashant Joshi of the Joshi family in the presence of devotees and members of the Damodar Bhajani Saptah Samiti, amid chants of “Bola Pundalika Varadhe Hari Vitthal.”
This year, special arrangements were made to regulate the large crowds expected during the main rituals. Police personnel were deployed in strength, while access restrictions were introduced inside the temple to prevent overcrowding.
Large queues of devotees formed outside the temple as people waited for the completion of the rituals before entering to offer prayers.
Speaking to the media, Joshi said the people of Vasco had been eagerly awaiting the festival and that additional measures were taken to ensure the safety of devotees.
He said precautions were introduced in view of incidents such as the stampede reported during the Lairai Jatra. Government agencies, including officials at the Collector level, had inspected the arrangements and recommended measures to manage the expected rush.
Joshi also said that the temple and surrounding fair area had been insured for the second consecutive time.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, MMC Chairperson Girish Borker and representatives of various Paar groups were among those present during the main rituals. Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho and other political leaders also visited the temple later in the day.
The ceremonies were live-streamed on local platforms and social media, allowing devotees who could not attend in person to participate virtually.
Following the Srifal installation, the first round of bhajans began, marking the start of the traditional 24-hour non-stop devotional singing associated with the Saptah. The temple premises and surrounding areas were decorated for the occasion.
Joshi said hundreds of karyakartas had worked on preparations, including barricading, crowd management, stage arrangements and fundraising, to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
He also expressed hope that the rains would not disrupt the celebrations and that every devotee would get an opportunity to seek the blessings of Lord Damodar.
The Saptah will conclude on Wednesday afternoon with the immersion of the holy Srifal, installed during the previous Saptah, into the sea at Kharewado by members of the Narvekar family.
Although the main religious observance concludes on Wednesday, several stalls are expected to remain operational for the next seven days as part of the Saptah fair, attracting visitors from across Goa.
The festival traces its origins to 1899, when Vasco was affected by a plague epidemic. According to local tradition, with limited medical facilities available at the time, residents sought divine intervention. A coconut was brought from the Zambaulim temple and installed at Vasco as an offering. The plague subsequently subsided, and the tradition evolved into the annual Shree Damodar Bhajani Saptah, which continues to be observed with devotion.
