Sal villagers celebrate Gade Utsav honoring nature's spirits

Villagers in Sal, Bicholim, are celebrating Gade Utsav, a three-night event honoring the guardian spirits of nature. The festival coincides with the full moon of the lunar month Phalgun and attracts visitors from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Participants, dressed in white dhotis, chase a torch believed to be carried by a holy spirit known as 'Devchar.' A 65-foot kokum tree trunk, decorated with mango leaves, serves as the focal point for rituals between the Bhumika and Mahadev temples. The celebration reflects the village's deep-rooted ecotheological beliefs, with locals protecting sacred trees that serve as homes for various guardian spirits. The event emphasizes gratitude for these spirits, who are thought to provide protection from evil forces.