Faithful converge as kaulotsav of Shirgao begins

Bicholim: Shirgao village’s ‘kaulotsav’, a ritual linked to the Lairai jatra, began late Wednesday evening in the presence of several dhonds, devotees, and Chowgule mankaris.After the homkhund rituals at the famed jatra end, a male devotee known as the ‘mode’, tasked with carrying the ‘kalas’ of goddess Lairai, rests at Chavhata until evening. During this time, devotees offer prayers and receive the goddess’s blessings in the form of ‘kaul’. It is then believed that goddess Lairai meets god Ravalnath, after which the ‘kalas’ are worshipped at the Sateri temple.The kaulotsav commences right after this.According to belief, goddess Lairai closes her eyes and runs from the Sateri temple, keeping them shut until she passes the house of Gaddu Ravlu. She opens them only on reaching Manaswada, where the kaulotsav formally starts.Legend has it that Gaddu Ravlu once insulted the goddess, and she therefore refused to look at his house.From Bicholim’s Manaswada, the kaulotsav passes through Madhlawada, near the Lairai temple, Palniwada, Bhatlyan, Vadachawada, and culminates at Deulwada, where the mankaris receive ‘kaul’.