Stage set for Chikal Kalo at Devaki Krishna temple in Marcel, Goa

EARTH CALLS

The heavy monsoon showers are set to welcome devotees to Goa's unique festival, Chikal Kalo (mud festival), in the divine precincts of Devaki Krishna temple in Marcel on Friday, June 30, 2023.

TRUE WORSHIP

Devaki Krishna is the only temple in India where Lord Krishna is worshipped along with his mother. One can see Devaki holding baby Krishna on her waist.

HIGH ENTHUSIASM

On Thursday, the local youth were putting up the infrastructure to celebrate the mud festival on Friday (June 30).

DEVOTION CALLS

On Thursday, the 24-hour ritual of Akhand Satsang began at the 400-year-old temple and will culminate at 11 am on Friday when the devotees will take part in the Chikal Kalo.

BURNING BRIGHT

An oil lamp is lit before the start of the Satsang and kept in front of Devaki Krishna.

BLESSINGS

Before the start of Chikal Kalo (also called mud bath), the devotees or mud-bath participants take a round around this lamp to seek the blessings of the deity.

OFFERING

Today (June 29), people who came to the temple offered flowers, tulsi and kumkum at the lamp to seek blessings. The festival enacts Lord Krishna's naughtiness of playing in the mud.

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