SHRUSHTI

As the last day of Ashadh month is celebrated as ‘gataari amavasya’, Goans cheer the last non-vegetarian day before the holy month of Shrawan begins. Many families prepare all the non-vegetarian dishes before Shrawan begins.
Once the Shrawan begins, most of the Hindu Goans go veg for a month. This is the month where many Hindu festivals are celebrated. One of the peculiar customs is the ‘Shrawan aytaar’, the Sunday where the women of houses collect all the possible herbs and shrubs and worship the Sun. One of the distinct leaves offered to the Shrawan aytaar is shervod, botanically known as Mussaenda Belilla, white coloured leaves which grow peculiarly in monsoons. The last Sunday of Sharwan is called ‘Mhataaro’ aytaar and mostly all the white flowers and leaves are used to make the aytaar look mhataaro, old!
Other festivals like Nagpancham, Gokulashtam are celebrated across the state and in some other states of India in this holy month. But some talukas, like Ponda, have distinct festivals during Shrawan. One of them is the famous Saptaah of Nageshi which is celebrated in Nagesh temple. Saptaah literally means a week. During this whole week, the temple premises host a devotional music festival. Abhang and bhajan recitals go on all day long. This is one of the temples where the singing goes non-stop for a week. Group after group takes charge to continue the musical worship. Every vaddo and community residing in and around Nageshi takes turn to continue every night.
One very interesting fact about Nageshi Saptaah is that there is someone or the other who has to stand with a ‘tambura’, a musical instrument, in front of the lamp which also has to be kept ignited till the Saptaah ends. People take turns to stand and the instrument is never kept down.
Interestingly, young people are also taking interest in this age old tradition and enjoy spending nights in the temple to sing bhajans.
Nageshi village, during the Saptaah, looks colourful with all the gudhis and the flags rooted on the roads. A lot of people from various places across the state visit Nageshi temple during these days.
Yet another festival for which everyone waits is Gokulashtami, the birth day of Lord Krishna. Mumbai is known for its competitions of Govinda, the haandi breaking contests. Nageshi also witnesses the dahi handi custom. For dahi haandi a human pyramid is formed to break the mud pot.
Other than these specific festivals, Shrawan is also a month where every temple has some festivities or the other lined up. Being vegetarian is excused because during this month the restaurants also come up with special Shrawan thaali. So, don’t mind Goans, Shrawan will be here soon. Get drenched in the festivities and for some sumptuous vegetarian food. Happy Shrawan!