The most important and almost the national festival for
Goan's is the Ganesh Chaturthi known as 'Chovoth'.
The festivities
run into several days, but minimum at least for two and half days, when puja
of Gouri and Mahadev along with Ganapati, is performed. Goddess Gouri is
drawn on paper and Lord Shiva symbolised by a coconut.
On these
days married women fast. On the Chovoth day, in the morning or evening, a
clay idol of Ganapati is brought home. Before that a matov (a small pandal
above the place where the idol is place) is prepared with bunches of betel
nut, coconut, bananas and branches of mango-trees being necessary
ingredients of it. The puja of Ganapati goes on until mid-day. The puja is
performed with the help of the priest.
On the second day, in the
evening or at night, after performing the uttar puja of the image of
Ganapati, it is taken in procession and immersed into a water body be it the
sea, creek, river, lake or well. Before the idol is removed from its stand
for immersion, it is besought for the welfare of the household and its
members.
Three days of Chovoth means, days of great rejoicing for
children. Girls collect different types and shapes of leaves for Gauri,
Mahadev and Ganapati. There is competition in flower-making also. At least
five vegetables are cooked on that day. Aartis is a special performance on
the occasion of the Ganapati festival.
On Panchami (fifth) day, in
the evening, crowds of people move around the village to have a look at
Ganapati. Women of the masses, dance and sing the Fugdi before Ganapati.
Some houses keep Ganapati for five, seven or nine days and rarely up to
Anant Chaturdashi.