Chikhal Kalo

Chikal Kalo is the name of a religious festival, which translates in Konkani as ‘playing in the mud’. This is unique only to the village of Marcel in Goa. The rare festival is a good mix of devotion and fun. Much like other festivals, it encourages the villagers to come together and promote unity. Chikal Kalo is celebrated on the grounds of a temple dedicated to the mother son duo Devaki and Krishna. The temple is said to be unique to Marcel as no other temple of sorts is said to be existing elsewhere in the country. The temple contains idols of Krishna known as ‘Balkrishna’ who is held in the arms of his mother Devaki.The celebrations begin on ‘Aashadi Ekadashi’ which falls on the 11th Day of Aashadh month according to the Hindu calendar. Devotees gather in the temple to sing Bhajans (Devotional songs) for two straight days. On the second day, people participating in the muddy ritual take oil from the lamp in the temple and apply it over their bodies. The mud is sprayed with water in advance to make it ready for celebration. After applying oil participants enact various games that Lord Krishna is supposed to have played as a child amongst his friends. Musical instruments such as cymbals, drums and bells add to the flavour.