Results from our content library
AI-Powered Search
Sign in to search for any topic in our content library — get answers, related past year questions, and practice MCQs on the topic.
Sign in to searchMulgaon Kelbai Peth Utsav
The Mulgaon Kelbai Peth Utsav, inaugurated on 23 March 2026 in Goa’s Bicholim taluka, is a distinctive cultural-religious festival reflecting the syncretic traditions of Goa. Celebrated annually on Chaitra Shukla Panchami, it marks the symbolic reunion of Goddess Kelbai of Mulgao with her sister Goddess Mahamaya of Mayem, embodying familial and spiritual bonds within local belief systems.
Salient Features: The central element of the festival is the ‘Peth’, a sacred bamboo basket carrying four wooden masks (Rupnnems) representing deities—Kelbai, Sateri, Ravalnath, and Mahadev. Devotees known as ‘Dhonds’ observe strict fasting and ritual purity from Gudi Padwa. The ‘Mod’, who carries the Peth on his head in a trance-like state, leads the procession through forested routes connecting Mulgao to Mayem. The festival is distinguished by the extensive use of Aboli (Crossandra) flowers, symbolising devotion. Rituals such as Dhondachi Tali (ritual bath) and Kaul (divine consultation) reinforce spiritual engagement.
Sign up free to read the full article
Free accounts include 5 articles every month across current affairs, state notes, subject notes and more — upgrade anytime for unlimited access.
Explore Mulgaon Kelbai Peth Utsav, a syncretic cultural festival in Goa celebrating local deities and preserving intangible heritage through sacred rituals and community traditions.
Keywords