Daijiworld News Network - Goa (MB)

Report and pics by Rajtilak Naik in Panaji

Mardol, Goa, Sep 12: The 93-year-old tradition still continues in the temple of Shri Devi Mahalasa in Mardol village around 22 kms away from the capital city.

'Garbh Kud' (worshipping room) of Devi Mahalasa is seen fully decorated with Jasmine flowers, and Hans Rath Wahan

Hans Rath Wahan

The 'Jasmine Festival', which is locally known as the 'Jaayaanchi Pooja',  has many things to write home about. The main highlight of the Jasmine Festival' is that the temple of Devi Mahalasa is fully decorated with the locally available Jasmine flowers. The fragrance spread by them continues to linger even days after the festival is over.

Views of the devotees

The Pooja is fully co-ordinated by the local 'Naik Fulkar Samaj'. During the two days of the festival not a single Jasmine flower is sold out in the market. Instead flowers are offered in the temple of Devi Mahalasa.   Flowers worth over Rs 3 lac are used for the decoration purposes in the temple every year.

Holy rituals

Hans Rath Wahan

Another attraction is the 'Rath Wahan'. Every year a huge chariot is made out of hard craft material. It has mythological significance. The theme of the Rath-Wahan (Chariot) changes every year. So far 93 Rath Wahans have been made, all symbolizing different mythological representations.

The temple Deepastambh, and aarti time

Aarti time

This year the Rath Wahan was named as the Hans Rath-Wahan. Some of the 'Rath-Wahans' have been Garud-Wahan, Matsya-Wahan, Gaja-Wahan, Viman-Wahan, Shesh-Wahan and so on.

Thousands of devotees turn to Mardol every year during the 'Jasmine festival' or the 'Jaayanchi Pooja'.
 
Jasmine, Not Just Mine, Yours too:

• CLICK HERE to read about Shankerpura-Pangla jasmine culture in Udupi district