Murder legend relived during Shigmo in remote village

Round the year, Suresh Gauns works as a traffic policeman in Mapusa. But every March, he takes a long leave to be part of the five-day-long

shigmo

festivity in his hometown - a remote village in Sattari called

Zarme

. That's the one time in the year when families get together to celebrate and keep the legacy of their forefathers alive. Among the many festivities is a unique ritual called Chorotsav - a festival celebrated as a tribute to the four people who were beheaded when they were wrongly identified as thieves.
This unique, spine-chilling festival that takes place on the full moon night during Holi, is something to experience indeed. Zarme is in north-east Goa, past Sanquelim and in the dense forests after a sharp left turn at

Saleli

. The village can be reached via a narrow road that passes through jungles and cashew plantations smelling of the fresh fruit and and urrak. Over the years, the locals have grown used to visitors from outside.
"There was a time when the festival only meant participation by people from all the wards of this village. But as the word spread and people around Goa got to know about this unique festival, many wanted to see it. After all, this festival only takes place in our village in Goa," said Vithoba Gauns, an elder from the village, with a hint of pride in his voice.
The temple courtyard was humming with activity as people prepared for the festivities. Drum rolls could be heard as children ran around with twigs. The space in front of the temple was shielded with red curtains. That's where the scene of the 'chors' would be enacted in a few hours, we were told. Just before the clock struck 10, the festivity commenced. A few men, and kids, along with two others dressed up as an elderly couple danced to the rhythm of the drums, making their way towards the central area. The crowd gathered around them as they enacted the scene where the parents - the elderly couple - seek justice for the wrongful murder of their sons, whom the villagers mistook for thieves.
Once the curtains were pulled back, the scene of the beheaded sons unfolded. Everyone ran to catch a glimpse of the four beheaded men lying lifeless. Satu Majik, a village elder explains, "Each year, we try to enact the beheading of the four sons during this day. We bury some from neck down, while some have their heads buried, giving an illusion of four beheaded men. It's been going on since centuries."
The story goes that Zarme fell on a route that connected the three states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra and saw a lot of traders passing through. One day, six brothers, who were going to sell a precious stone were captured by the villagers, who presumed they were thieves. The four elder brothers - all married - were beheaded, while the two younger ones were tortured to death. It was only when the parents came looking for their sons did the villagers realise their mistake and were remorseful. Fearing the wrath of the forest deity, they began this sacred ritual to beg for forgiveness.
"The ritual was passed down to us by our forefathers. We aren't sure for how many centuries it's been going on. My family has been taking part in it for the last three generations," says Suresh who had dressed up and taken part as one of the four sons. He adds, "One man from each family gets to take part in the ritual each year. The married men depict the role of the brothers who were beheaded, while the younger boys play the role of the younger brothers. We are five brothers, and I have been taking part since last year. Every time a different person from the family gets to take part."