#TG Life
The famous ‘Chikhalkalo’ at Devki Krishna temple, Marcela was celebrated on Saturday by villagers of Marcel and surrounding areas with great fervour chanting ‘Jai Hari Vitthal’ on the beats of traditional percussion’s. Many spectators had shown their presence to witness this unique festival taking place every year in Marcel, since last many years.
The children, youth and senior citizens of the village were seen partaking in the festival, by playing traditional games and and splashing mud on each other. Chikhalkalo, which is basically playing in mud and splashing it on each other, is being celebrated here since last four centuries. This unique festival has become so famous that many people across Goa visit here to witness it.
It begins on Dwadashi, on the twelfth day of the Ashaadh month of the Hindu calendar, with continuous 24 hours bhajani saptah. The youths and villagers of the Marcela area participates in the bhajani saptah and then they enthusiastically participates in Chikhalkalo.
The games that Lord Krishna used to play in his childhood are played during this festival by the partakers. It takes place on the ground in front of the Devki Krishna temple. The temple of Devki Krishna is the only one of its kind in the world and is known for its unique idol of Lord Krishna sitting on his mother Devki’s lap.
The devotees smear the oil on their bodies and seek the blessing of almighty. Later, they gather on the ground and celebrate the chikhalkalo together.
According to villagers there is tradition that parents bring their new born babies to witness this festival and the mud is applied to their forehead.
People have strong belief that this mud helps to make away skin diseases and hence they are closely associated with this festival.
As per the history narrated by the villagers, idol of Lord Krishna earlier belonged to the temple in Chorao, four centuries ago this idol was brought in Marcel, since then Chikhalkalo celebration also started here.
Throughout the celebration devotees chanted ‘Jai Vitthal, Hari Vitthal’, while traditional percussions were played along.
Not only splashing the mud on each other, people distribute sweets and fruits to visitors and also to devotees present. The festival gets concludes after the ‘dahihandi’ is broken. Later all disperse to take bath and gather again in temple to sing devotional songs.
