The Saptah Festival In Vasco Da Gama

If you are in Vasco Da Gama, you cannot afford to miss the Saptah Festival.

As the name suggests, the duration of the festival is for a week. It usually starts in the month of August, a day after nag panchmi and is supposed to last for a week.

The people here believe that the festival is more than 100 years old. It is celebrated in the temple of Damodar on Swatantra Street in Vasco.

The religious fervour melts to shopping spree and vendors from all over India come to this quaint town of Goa to put up their stalls and do brisk business.

It is in essence a typical Indian mela, full of variety of stalls ranging from toys and utilities to food items.

(The Crowd at Saptah)

One visit is a must to inhale the traditional essence of a fair and if one is lucky, one can grab some good stuff at throw away prices. Otherwise, just a walk in those lanes makes you feel good and one is amazed to see a variety of goods on display. Sometimes,fancy mobile covers will magnetise you and at other times the sugar soaked jalebis will beckon you towards the stall. From bedsheets to doormats, from footwear to jewellery, you name an item, and it's there.

(Titbits on display) I was amazed to see the makeshift stalls on the main market. With heavy rains the whole last week, still the temporary shops managed to attract customers from far and wide. Its nothing less than a portable home for nomads. I even saw a small baby sleeping to glory on a charpai, where clothes were kept for display and the baby's mom was a busy bee, nothing less than a business woman.

On the opposite side were vendors selling all kinds of utensils at throw away prices and shouting at the top of their voices to lure more customers.

There is no corner in that part of Vasco which emanates peace, during that time.I did wonder about people residing in that area and how do they live for a whole week amidst this crowd and chaos. Guess, they have no choice!

Consumerism , no doubt is reigning supreme everywhere. Whether it's the cheap Chinese product or the fake that imitates the genuine, it's difficult to tell. The truth is people are ready to buy!

Stalls selling earrings and hair bands for as less as Rs 10, is hard to believe. But when you pay a visit to such fairs, you get the taste of real India.

( Little birds and their colourful nests)

From jeans to dresses, everything was available at affordable rates. It did make me feel happy for a moment, especially when I saw families who didn't look too well off, desiring to fulfill their children's demands for the latest in fashion.

Benetton, Marks and Spencers are not everyone's cup of tea. But to sport the latest is everyone's desire ...and what better way than a fair like this to make the entire family happy and satisfied.

People from all walks of life are seen sharing the same road and rubbing shoulders with each other.

What I really liked about the fair was that unlike North India, there was no visible hooliganism. Hundreds of people walking all around, throngs surrounding the same shop, but no fear of chain snatching or any other inappropriate activity.

The peace loving and simple people of Goa know how to behave and carry themselves in times of such festivities.

I got tempted to taste a few Goan delicacies. Made of Gur, the one I picked up for home was called Khaja. One of the customer standing next to me told me about its authenticity. The only thing that was preventing me from buying it was the use of food colour in it. But then, don't we go out and enjoy lip smacking curries in hotels? Food colour is used there too. So I convinced myself and picked up a packet.

( Khaja...an authentic Goan dessert)

For those who have attended fairs like nauchandi in Meerut, it's easy to relate to this fair. Nauchandi Mela in Meerut is on a much larger scale though. But the first glimpse of Saptah, made me recollect my Meerut days, when as a child, I was a regular visitor to that fair.

If in this era of internet shopping and mall frenzy, the fair can magnetise people from all over, it's indeed creditable.

It's indeed an experience to be a part of such madness. The joy of shopping, the pleasure of bargaining and the happiness of coming home with bags full of goodies and memories is incomparable.

Truly, the Saptah adds vigour and life and light to this otherwise sleepy and quaint little town.

If in Goa during this time, do pay a visit to Vasco da Gama for an experience of a kind. It is a Hindu festival which is celebrated with so much enthusiasm in Goa and that's the beauty of the state. Irrespective of the religious tone, people here immerse themselves to enjoy all festivals in the same spirit.

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By - Monisha Rastogi