Sri Ravalnath Mandir (Shiroda) | temple

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Shiroda, Goa.Devotees, in huge numbers, recently thronged Bordem in Bicholim to participate in the festivities of the annual Paunner of the Ravalnath-Bhutnath deities.

Every year, after the Tulsi Vivah — the ritualistic marriage ceremony of the pedestal of the holy basil plant with Lord Krishna — the insignia of the folk deities of Ravalnath and Bhutnath, also known as the tarangas, are brought in procession to the houses of chosen devotees. This year, the tarangas were first brought to the house of one Vijay Bordekar on Friday. Then, on Saturday, the tarangas, along with the idol of the presiding deity Mahamaya, were taken to the house of Tukaram Pal of Bordem where devotees from various parts of Goa took part in the ceremony and also relished a range of traditional dishes cooked specially for the occasion.

Speaking to TOI, Mahamaya temple committee member Rohidas Pal said, "At the community lunch, Pithi, a curry made from horse gram (kulith), khatkhate, a spicy dish made using vegetables, tubers and roots, Guleni, a sweet dish and other dishes were served to the devotees who came to invoke the blessing of the deities."

62-year-old Bordem resident, Ramchandra Pal Bordem said, "Devotees associated with our temple participate in the ceremony of Paunner with utmost devotion and after getting blessings through the garland of flowers feel satisfied."

Upto a quarter century back, Bordem was predominantly an agricultural village and villagers, after reaping the paddy crop, got ready to welcome their presiding deity with grandeur and festivities. Though agriculture is now on the verge of extinction in Bordem due to haphazard mining, residents still celebrate Paunner to invoke the blessing of the deity for prosperity.