Venita Gomes
The annual Babreshwar Zatra, also known as Kelyanchi Zatrotsav, takes place at the Babreshwar temple, Calangute.
At this unique zatra banana bunches (keleyache ghod) are tied on the roof of the temple forming kind of a canopy or matoli.
The devotees offer banana bunches to Lord Babreshwar in return for answered prayers.
After the offerings are made, the bunches are tied to the roof of the temple.
In just one week, the temple gets an offering of around 6,000 bunches of bananas, but sometimes more!
Lord Babreshwar is considered to be a god of miracles, so devotees come with deep faith.
The bananas are auctioned from day two itself to ensure that there is no wastage.
People buy these bananas for distribution or sale or for personal comsumption.