Rohan Fernandes
A unique age-old tradition, called Sheni Uzzo, takes place in Molcornnem village, of Quepem taluka, during Shigmo.
During Sheni Uzzo, devotees shower hot embers on their bodies, in an unusual, one-of-a-kind festival in the country.
Post midnight, people gather near the temple, in Quepem, and you can hear the loud, piercing sound of singing, chanting and musical instruments.
At one stage, you will find men racing towards the temple, carrying areca nut palms.
These men then light 'cow dung cakes/discs', which is how this tradition gets its name ie Sheni Uzzo. ‘Sheni’ means ‘dry cow dung’, while ‘uzzo’ means ‘fire’.
They, then, douse their bodies with the hot embers.
Devotees eagerly wait for the moment when they can run under the hot embers.
While running under the shower of fire, devotees believe that no one will get burnt or hurt.