Goemkarponn Desk
VASCO: The religious rituals of the Akhand Damodar Bhajani Saptah concluded on Sunday afternoon with the conducting of “Samapti” rituals and immersion of the Shreefal ( Coconut ) anointed the previous year at the feet of Lord Damodar, in the Arabian Sea.
A large number of devotees from across Goa arrived at the temple premises to participate in the Samapti on Sunday afternoon
As per traditional rituals, the commencement of Saptah Festival begins with the placement of Shreefal by the members of the Joshi family and the Samapti ritual begins with the immersion of the previous years Kaul by the Narvekar family for several years.
Speaking to media , Damodar Narvekar said that their family had the privilege to carry out the immersion of Kaul and Samapti rituals
” This year we are carrying out the Samapti on a grand scale and we have started the rituals a bit earlier this year. We have a huge number of devotees that have joined us this year considering the 125th year of Saptah festival. We will carry the Shreefal in the procession and immerse it in the Arabian Sea at Kharewado ,after which the religious aspect of the Saptah will conclude. We will come back to the temple and offer prasad after the Pooja and this will mark the conclusion of the Damodar Saptah “said Narvekar
On Sunday afternoon , a huge number of devotees along with Damodar Narvekar began the process of the Samapti wherein , a huge procession performing the Dindi moved towards the Kharewado beach where the previous Kaul was immersed in the sea to mark the conclusion of Damodar Bhajani Saptah, which witnesses 24 hours non stop Bhajan Performances by different groups
The Dindi procession dancing with slogans of ” Gyanba Tukaram ” and dindi Pathak stopped at the Railway station circle to perform a Bhajan .
The final bhajan was sung at the Kharewado jetty before that previous years Kaul was finally immersed in the Sea.
After the immersion was done, the prasad usually consisting of fruits was distributed amongst everyone and the procession moved back to the temple singing “Gopal Kala, God zala, Gopalane God Kela , Amcha Vithobha ghara shi aala.”
The traffic police deployed along the route back to the temple ensured that traffic was monitored and there was the hindrance is caused to the the procession returning back to the temple.
The Samapti ritual concluded when the procession entered the temple premises and danced in a circular pattern around the people singing Bhajans in the temple.
The final Pooja of Lord Damodar was performed and Prasad was distributed to all the people present in the temple.
This marked the conclusion of the 24 hours Akhand Damodar Bhajani Saptah.
The temple will however be open for all the devotees who come from far and wide to recieve the blessing of the Lord Damodar .
The stalls offering clothes,sweets and traditional furniture will continue to remain around the temple premises for the next seven days and attract many visitors and devotees from across Goa.