Surangi flowers captivate devotees at Vargao temple

Keri: Idol of goddess Bhagwati Chimulkarin, adorned with the garlands of Surangi flowers, at Vargao in Marcel attracted thousands of devotees during the ongoing festivities.
To avoid the religious persecutions during Portuguese rule, goddess Bhagwati— the presiding deity of Chimbel village of Tiswadi— was brought to Vargao by devotees.
Various festivities and rituals take place at the temple annually during the last month of the lunar calendar ‘Phalgun’.
The priest, along with the devotees linked to the deity, adorned the goddess’ idol with beautiful garlands of fragrant Surangi (Mammea suriga) flowers. It was a feast for the eyes of devotees.
Vasudev Vinayak Shivrekar, a temple priest, said, “This is for the first time we have used garlands woven by devotees of Surangi flowers for performing special puja of Bhagwati goddess. This has added a new dimension to our cultural enrichment.”
In Goa, Surangi-bearing trees have been valued for their flowers. In the past, the sacred groves in Sarvan of Devachi Rai and in Sal at Kumyamol of Rashtroli’s Rai, offered protection to such trees.
This medium-sized aromatic tree, endemic to the Western Ghats, bears fragrant flowers from Feb to March. Mostly, married women used the garlands for dressing their braids.
Dried flowers of Surangi are of great economic importance, as the fragrance remains for a long time. Due to this property, the flowers are in great demand, especially in the perfumery industry.
In Aravali of Vengurla, devotees conduct Surangichi Puja at Vetoba temple on Mondays during the flowering season.
These four-petalled flowers have always enchanted women in Goa too. The look of the flower has inspired many in the jewellery business as various ornaments are made available on the theme.