The ‘zatrotsav’ of Shree Shantadurga Fatorpekarin begins in Goa today

The hugely popular Fatorpa zatra begins on January 3, 2022 this year and concludes on January 8, 2022.

This year, the annual zatrotsav of the very popular Shree Shantadurga Fatorpekarin, at Fatorpa, begins today ie Jan 3, 2022 and continues till January 8, 2022. People from all over Goa, belonging to different communities and castes throng to worship the temple deity.

The highlight of this zatra is the 4-day chariot procession, which is attended by crowds of devotees to chants of “Shantadurga Mata ki jai.”

The zatra is a five-day event, held during Paushya Shuddha Panchami till Dashmi of the Hindu calendar. The highlight of the event is the chariot procession, the first day of which, marks the beginning of the zatrotsav. A procession of the diety on an ambary (elephant chariot) is held on the second day. On the third day, there is a procession of the flower chariot (fulancho rath). The Maharath, which is a chariot of horses and the main chariot, is held the fourth day, while a variety of the programmes is held the next day.

ABOUT THE TEMPLE

The beautiful temple of Kuncoliencarin was originally built in Cuncolim (today, it is the site of a market). In the 1570s, during the Portuguese rule, the original temple in Cuncolim was destroyed, but the image of the goddess Shantadurga was taken to Fatorpa, an area which was free from Portuguese rule for almost two centuries. Eventually, a new temple was built in the village of Fatorpa, which is where the image rests to this day.

The devasthan of the temple has twelve vangods, comprising twelve different communities. These twelve vangods are all-important for the opening of any socio-religious rituals in the village and temple.

It is believed that the deity, the kulswamini of the twelve vangods, has two forms. In her calm avatar, she is maternal, loving and kind; while her other form is called devi Durga, the fierce form, a destroyer of evil. Four forms of the idol can be seen on all four sides of the temple.

Idols of navgrahas, kalbhairav, tandavnritya, kaliamardan, hirenyakashphu and ugradevta are seen inside the temple.

MYTHS & LORE

Several myths and legends are associated with Shantadurga, but this one is the most well-known. After the construction of the temple, the gaunkars found it near impossible to install the deity as it was too heavy for them to carry. When they prayed for a solution, the goddess appeared to them in a dream, and instructed them to prepare the way, and that she would go to the chosen location … by herself! Accordingly, they quickly adorned the floor with flowers, and to their surprise, the next morning, the idol was found inside the temple, while there with foot prints on the petals!