Dry grass is the highlight of this sacred ritual unique to Goa

CULTURAL WEALTH

The state of Goa contains an extensive list of customs and rituals unique to the land. These traditions have been preserved and celebrated for over centuries.

SACRED RITUAL

One such sacred ritual or pooja that took place yesterday and highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Goa is Kadda Pooja, performed every year at the the village of Kundaim, in the Ponda taluka.

KADDA POOJA

Kadda, in the local language, Konkani, refers to dry grass or hay. The pooja involves gathering the hay around the sacred shrine, and burning it afterwards.

CELEBRATING THE DIVINE

This ritual is performed to honour the holy yogi, Shree Siddheshwar, who, a long time ago, visited the ancestral home of the Shenvi Kundaikar family while travelling through the village.

HOLY TRADITION

Since then, this ritual has become a sacred annual tradition for the family and the villagers of Kundaim. A coconut offering by a man of the Shenvi Kundaikar family marks the beginning of the pooja.

PRAYERS & OFFERINGS

A large number of devotees from the village and neighbouring regions gather at this holy place to offer their prayers to Shree Siddheshwar. They also carry coconuts and sheaves of hay as offerings.

PURIFICATION RITUALS

The sacred ritual of setting the hay on fire serves as a powerful symbol of purification, highlighting the faith and devotion of the locals. These traditions and rituals form the crux of Goa's rich cultural heritage.

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