Keri: Tarangas, insignias representing village deities, are an integral part of Dussehra celebrations in Goa, attracting devotees from various places seeking blessings.After nine auspicious nights in the first fortnight of the lunar month of Ashwin, metallic or wooden masks and palms representing village deities are mounted on wooden poles and draped in colourful saris. Chosen devotees in traditional attire carry the Tarangas in processions while in a trance, accompanied by folk percussion instruments and metallic gongs.The processions visit several places where large numbers of villagers gather for blessings. The masks and metallic palms atop the poles are believed to possess divine powers.Devidas Gaonkar of Mauxi in Sattari said Tarangas were an integral part of Dussehra celebrations in the Goa-Konkan region and symbolically represented village deities. Seeking blessings from those carrying them was considered important, he said.Tarangas are kept inside temples and considered sacred throughout the year. During Dussehra, they are draped in new saris offered by devotees after their wishes are fulfilled.On the ninth night, Ashwin Mahanavami, the sari-draped Tarangas resemble umbrellas and are taken out in processions to bless villagers for almost a week. On Ashwin’s full-moon night, celebrated as Kojagiri Punav in Pernem town, devotees throng to seek blessings from Tarangas representing Ravalnath, Bhutnath and Bhagavati.Villagers accord Tarangas utmost respect as representations of village deities and symbols of historical and cultural values.
