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GANESH CHATURTHI or CHOVOTH
The most important and almost the national
festival for Goan's is the Ganesh Chaturthi known as 'Chovoth'.
 The
festivities run into several days, but minimum at least for
two and half days, when puja of Gouri and Mahadev along with
Ganapati, is performed. Goddess Gouri is drawn on paper and
Lord Shiva symbolised by a coconut.
On these days married women fast. On the
Chovoth day, in the morning or evening, a clay idol of Ganapati
is brought home. Before that a matov (a small pandal
above the place where the idol is place) is prepared with
bunches of betel nut, coconut, bananas and branches of mango-trees
being necessary ingredients of it. The puja of Ganapati goes
on until mid-day. The puja is performed with the help of the
priest.
On the second day, in the evening or at
night, after performing the uttar puja of the image
of Ganapati, it is taken in procession and immersed into a
water body be it the sea, creek, river, lake or well. Before
the idol is removed from its stand for immersion, it is besought
for the welfare of the household and its members.
Three days of Chovoth means, days of great
rejoicing for children. Girls collect different types and
shapes of leaves for Gauri, Mahadev and Ganapati. There is
competition in flower-making also. At least five vegetables
are cooked on that day. Aartis is a special performance on
the occasion of the Ganapati festival.
On Panchami (fifth) day, in the evening,
crowds of people move around the village to have a look at
Ganapati. Women of the masses, dance and sing the Fugdi before
Ganapati. Some houses keep Ganapati for five, seven or nine
days and rarely up to Anant Chaturdashi.
See Also Hindu Festivals Celebrated in
Goa:
| Chovoth
| Diwali | Gokulashtami
| Holi | Lairai
Jatra | Nagpanchami |
| Gudi Padwa | Raksha
Bandhan | Ram Navmi | Vasco
Saptah | Chikhalkala |
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