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{{Short description|Hindu festival in Goa, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Vasco Saptah
| image = Lord Damodar at Damodar Temple during Vasco Saptah.jpg
| caption = Lord Damodar at the Damodar Temple during the Vasco Saptah
| nickname = Damodar Bhajani Saptah
| observedby = [[Hindu]]s
| date = 6th day of [[Shravana (month)|Shravana month]] of the [[Hindu calendar]]
| observances =
| celebrations =
| type = Hindu
| longtype = Hindu, cultural, [[Goa]]n
| significance = Commemoration of the belief that the 1899 epidemic in [[Vasco da Gama, Goa|Vasco]] was eradicated by the blessings of Lord Damodar
| relatedto =
| frequency = Annual
| duration = 1 week
| firsttime = {{start date and age|df=yes|1899}}
}}
The '''Vasco Saptah''' ({{Translation|week}}) or the '''Damodar Bhajani Saptah''' is an annual cultural and religious festival celebrated in [[Vasco da Gama, Goa|Vasco da Gama]], [[Goa]]. It is a week-long celebration that starts on the sixth day of the [[Shravana (month)|Shravana month]] of the [[Hindu calendar]], usually in the month of July or August, that commemorates the belief that an epidemic in 1899 was overcome with the blessings of Lord Damodar, a local incarnation of [[Lord Shiva]].

==History==
In 1899, an epidemic spread across the city of [[Vasco da Gama, Goa|Vasco da Gama]], [[Portuguese Goa]], causing several deaths. Members of some prominent families from the city then travelled to [[Zambaulim]] to seek blessings from Lord Damodar (believed to be a local incarnation of [[Shiva]]) at [[Shri Damodar Sansthaan, Goa|Shri Damodar Sansthaan]]. The temple priest then gave them a ''shreephal'' ({{Translation|sacred coconut}}) as ''[[prasada]]''. The ''shreephal'' was then placed at the house of the Joshi family, and was worshipped faithfully by the citizens of Vasco, after which it is believed that the epidemic subsided. The Vasco Saptah ({{Translation|week}}), or the Damodar Bhajani Saptah, is thus celebrated every year to commemorate this.<ref name="GoanSaptahLara24">{{Cite web |last=Pereira Naique |first=Lara |date=10 August 2024 |title=Saptah, Vasco's Unique Festival |url=https://epaper.thegoan.net/3902985/THE-GOAN/THE-GOAN#page/5/1 |website=The Goan EveryDay}}</ref><ref name="GomantakVasco">{{Cite web |title=Vasco gets into celebratory mode with its annual Saptah festival |url=https://www.gomantaktimes.com/news/goa/vasco-gets-into-celebratory-mode-with-its-annual-saptah-festival |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Gomantak Times |date=3 August 2022 }}</ref>

==Observance and traditions==
===''Shreephal'' ceremony===
[[File:Singing of bhajans at Damodar Temple during Vasco Saptah.jpg|thumb|Singing of bhajans at Vasco Saptah]]
Every year on the sixth day of [[Shravana (month)|Shravana month]] of the [[Hindu calendar]], usually in the month of July or August, a ''shreephal'' is brought from the [[Shri Damodar Sansthaan, Goa|Shri Damodar Sansthaan]] at [[Zambaulim]] and placed in the Damodar Temple at Vasco. The temple is located in the original large hall of the house that belongs to the Joshi family in Vasco. This ceremony, performed at noon, is accompanied with the singing of ''[[bhajan]]s'' for 24 hours.<ref name="GoanSaptahLara24" />

Since the Joshi family had originally housed the ''shreephal'' in 1899, a member of the family usually installs this sacred coconut every year.<ref name="GoanSaptahLara24" /> Until the 2000s, businessman and politician [[Vasant Joshi]] from the Joshi family was responsible for this.<ref name="ToIJoshiDead13">{{Cite news |date=2013-12-29 |title=Ex-Mormugao MLA dead |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/ex-mormugao-mla-dead/articleshow/28067398.cms |access-date=2025-03-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

===Cultural performances===
The festivities in the city continue into the night. ''Paars'', which are tableaux displaying stories from [[Hindu mythology]], are paraded through the roads of Vasco. There also ''baithaks'' (entertainment sessions) featuring Indian classical songs held in various parts of Vasco.<ref name="GoanSaptahLara24" />

===Immersion of the ''shreephal''===
After the 24-hour celebration is completed, the ''shreephal'' is carried to the beach at Khariwada in Vasco and immersed into the sea.<ref name="GoanSaptahLara24" />

===Fair===
[[File:Stall selling sweets at Vasco Saptah.jpg|thumb|Stall selling local sweets at Vasco Saptah]]
During Saptah, a huge fair is held for about seven days in Vasco. This is an important shopping festival, selling items of necessity for the citizens of Vasco. Some examples of items sold include steel and brass utensils, grinding stones for spices, kitchenware and furniture. The fair also has people selling items of [[Chitari art]]. Other stalls sell local sweets such as ''kaddeo boddeo''.<ref name="GoanSaptahLara24" />

==Local belief==
Locals in Vasco believe that Lord Damodar has since protected the citizens from multiple epidemics in the city, including the 2006 [[chikungunya]] epidemic, the 2019 [[dengue]] epidemic and the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]].<ref name="GomantakVasco" />

==125th edition==
The 125th edition of the festival was celebrated in 2024. It was marked by grand celebrations, unlike the smaller celebrations of the previous few years, due to the restrictions of the [[COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India]]. The Saptah committee also released a special logo for the festival, that was available as souvenirs.<ref name="Herald125th">{{Cite web |title=125th anniversary of Saptah begins in Vasco with sacred Shreefal ceremony |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/goa/125th-anniversary-of-saptah-begins-in-vasco-with-sacred-shreefal-ceremony/224668 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Herald Goa |date=30 July 2015 }}</ref><ref name="TheGoan125th">{{Cite web |title=Port town set to usher in 125th Damodar Saptah Festival |url=https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/%EF%BB%BFport-town-set-to-usher-in-125th-damodar-saptah-festival/117175.html |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=The Goan}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Festivals in Goa]]
[[Category:Vasco da Gama, Goa]]

Vasco Saptah - Revision history

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