Katia Goes
The festival of Shigmo in Goa has once again thrown light on the various rites and rituals that take place in Goa during spring.
Unique to the villages of Zarme and Karanzol in Satteri, the tradition of Chorotsav was celebrated on March 12, 2023, this year.
This age-old, blood-curdling tradition originated when some of the youths of the village were said to be falsely accused and killed by the villagers as they were mistaken to be robbers (chors).
The devastated families of the youth soon learned of the tragic fate that had befallen their kin.
The villagers soon realised what a grave error they had made. In the hope of preventing a curse from befalling them, they repented and came up with the ritual of Chorotsav.
Held on a full moon night at a sacred place, a few youth are chosen to enact what happened on that fateful night, as an act of punishment. The participating youths are called Chors.
Some of the men are buried in a pit with only their heads above the surface. The other men have their heads buried, while their torso is exposed above the ground, holding swords in their hands.
The festival of Chorotsav, during Shigmo, is one that reminds devotees of the value and importance of repentance.