Goa’s temple tanks, water rituals highlighted at Jal Shakti event

PANAJI: Water harvesting in Goa is a centuries-old tradition practiced by conserving water through temple tanks, springs, lakes and wells, said researcher of Goa’s folk traditions Pournima Kerkar.
Temple tanks in Goa are used for harvesting and storing water throughout the year, while the tanks also enjoy a ‘sacred’ status. During festivities, the idol of the presiding deity of the temple is seated in twin boats and ferried across the tank to the tune of musical instruments, said Kerkar, speaking at the national seminar jointly organised by the Deendayal Research Institute, Delhi, in association with the ministry of Jal Shakti, ministry of culture and other central agencies.
The event was held at Mandu in Madhya Pradesh.
Through her presentation, she showed how Goan festivals and rituals are deeply connected with water harvesting and maintaining of water resources.
The Christian festival of San Joao, Gauri pujan performed during Ganesh Chaturthi, Rishi pujan in the river are all rituals related to water conservation in Goa, she said, further explaining how the eco-feministic festivals of Dhalo and Dhillo have been describing sources of water, fish and amphibians enriching an area’s agriculture and horticulture.
At the two-day event, other resource persons present for the seminar highlighted various aspects of water and its relationship with ecology, hydrology, biodiversity and culture.