Bicholim Celebrates Navaratrotsav with Vibrant Dussehra Festivities

The Navaratrotsav festivities in Bicholim taluka, India concluded with Dussehra celebrations at various temples on Thursday, October 2, 2025. The celebrations began on Monday, September 22 and continued for over a week at several temples in the region.

At the Mahamaya Kalika Devasthan in Kasarpal, rituals such as Ghatsthapana, Ganesh Poojan, Punyahvachan, Panchamrut Rudrabhishek, Mahanaivadhya, Mahamangalaarti, Tirthprasad, and Mahaprasad, as well as bhajans and kirtanas, were held until Wednesday, October 1. The Makharotsav, a festival associated with the celebrations, was also observed from September 22 to October 1.

The Dussehra celebration on Thursday, October 2 was marked by various religious rituals. A palanquin procession of the goddess Kalika was carried out from the temple to Simer, followed by a gold-grabbing ritual performed by devotees. The palanquin then returned to the temple, and the devotees were offered the first corn of the newly harvested paddy, signifying the conclusion of the ceremony.

Similar Dussehra celebrations were held at other temples across Bicholim taluka, including the Shantadurga temple, Chamundeshwari temple, Sateri Mahamaya temple, Vandevi temple, and Sharvani temple. At the Shri Shantadurga Devasthan in Gaonkarwada, the Taranga procession of the gods Ravalnath and Bhutnath was carried from the temple to Sonar Peth, Bicholim, the traditional worship place of the goddess.