Poinguinim village, India - The Takyachi zatra is one of the most important religious fairs of Poinguinim village in which a large number of devotees from Canacona and surrounding areas enthusiastically participate. This year it is being celebrated from May 6 to 18.
Though this fair is mainly associated with God Vetal of Poinguinim, villagers from Sadolshe, Loliye and Khargal also take part in the celebrations.
Taka is the inscription written on a piece of cloth with coloured thread and is dated to the saka era 1745. According to a well-known scholar and resident of Poinguinim Dr V B Prabhudesai, "The language of the inscription is the representation of Marathi belonging to the Yadav-Bahamani period." It is a type of eulogy composed to praise the brave deeds of God Vetal.
During the celebrations, a procession is taken out with the Taka being held by a person under the trance of Vetal. It moves from Navdurga temple of Aarav to Karapanas, Galaye, Sadolshe, Kolasar, Chandanped, Loliye, Khargal and will return back to the Vetal temple of Poinguinim on May 13.
On May 14 and 15 there will be a folk drama presentation known as Jagar, which has its roots in the hoary past and this unique folk drama reflects the rich cultural heritage of the land in the premises of Vetal temple.
Throughout Goa there is a rich tradition of Vetal worship, which is related to the fierce tantric cult. In Goa, the people associated with agricultural and fishing occupations worship this god as Vetal or Betal.
God Vetal is the folk deity who is considered as the prince of goblins and it is believed that he exercises control over spirits and ghosts. Iconographically, Betal is shown wearing a garland of human heads, holding a dagger is one hand and a bowl in another with robust arms, ornaments of snakes and is always shown totally naked.
In order to propitiate Vetal, devotees make offerings of fowls and goats in addition to liquor. In the past in some villages, there was even a sacrificial offering of a buffalo.
In Canacona and surrounding areas, Vetal of Poinguinim has a large number of followers who strongly believe in supernatural powers. When their wishes get fulfilled, the devotees pay a visit to the temple and make offerings.
The name Poinguinim is evolved from the word Panchyagram or five villages. Parshuram, Purushottam, Durgadevi, Adipurush and Vetal are the five deities which have great significance in the religious life of the people of Poinguinim.
It is believed that Vetal after conquering twelve kingdoms in the13th century reached Poinguinim where an intelligent Nagu Velip tricked God Vetal into bestowing blessings on the villages.
The wisdom of Nagu Velip transformed Betal into a folk deity bestowing its blessings on the devotees.
The Takyachi zatra is celebrated in order to give invitation for the people for Gadyachi zatra, which will be celebrated next year.