Chaitri festival ends with many gathering to witness Veerbhadra

Bicholim: The annual five-day festival of Vithal-Rakhumai-Satyabhama temple at Vithalapur, Sanquelim, culminated with Veerabhadra on Friday.

Hundreds of devotees gathered at the temple premises to witness the Veerbhadra dance that is held on the last day of the five-day Chaitri festivity in the premises of Lord Vithal-Rakhumai-Satyabhama temple.

Veerabhadra, who keeps the rhythm on the beat of the mridangam, dances with enthusiasm. The person performing the Veerbhadra dance is believed to be in a trance, said Nakul Gaonkar, a local. He is first lifted high from the ground by people who are designated to handle the situation around him. He continues with the dance from there on.

After the Veerabhadra ceremony, a procession of Lord Vithal was taken out in a special chariot in the temple courtyard marking the conclusion of the festivity. Chief minister Pramod Sawant, health minister Vishwajit Rane and others attended the festival.