The villages of Goa come alive during the spring festival, as villagers from near and far return to their roots to partake in the festivities. Each village is famous for its unique festival or ritual, which helps to identify it. One such festival in Goa is Chorotsav, which is celebrated during Shigmo or Holi in other parts of the country. The people of Zarme in Mauxi, about 6 km from Valpoi, and Caranzol in Savordem in Sattari taluka are particularly popular for this joyous festival.

The festival of Chorotsav at Zarme and Caranzol in Sattari, where they bury four men alive, appeares gruesome to outsiders, but for the locals, it is a ritualistic celebration. They celebrate Chorotsav on the seventh day of holi at Caranzol, and on the second day of poornima. They dig eight pits with Swasthic pattern, with two poles standing in two directions. The ceremony involves burying four individuals with only their heads above ground, while they bury other four with only their heads below the surface. This symbolizes how thieves were mistakenly killed centuries ago. The event attracts numerous curious onlookers, as they watch with bated breath to observe the eight individuals buried in the pits.

Story behind this Unique Festival of Goa, Chorotsav Significance, History of Chorotsav

The festival is steeped in the history of the village, and is believed to have originated from a tragic incident involving some youths. These youths were mistaken for robbers (Chors) and killed by the villagers. Although the exact origins of this age-old practice are unclear, it is said that in the past, people used to travel through the forest for work or to collect produce from the foothills and villages across the Western Ghats. During one such journey, some youths from a neighboring village were mistakenly identified as robbers and were killed by the villagers. The families of the victims, in search of their loved ones, eventually discovered their fate and the villagers realized their terrible mistake.

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In order to repent for their actions and avoid any potential curses, the villagers began a tradition where participating youths, called Chors, are buried alive. Now they perform this ritual annually during the festival, with eight youths participating in Zarme and nine in Caranzol.

How Chorotsav, a festival of thieves is actually celebrated in Goa?

Preparations for the festival are extensive and time-consuming. The actual event itself is brief, lasting only 10 to 20 minutes. The ceremony takes place in front of the Saptamatrika temple, at a sacred location known as Chavatho, on a full moon night. During this risky operation, they bury four youths in a pit with only their heads visible above the surface. Meanwhile, four others have their heads buried below ground, with their bodies exposed on the surface holding swords in their hands. A large audience gathers to watch the event, as the drumbeats cease and then they reveal Chors to the crowd.

For a truly unforgettable experience, one should witness the Chorotsav festivities at Caranzol, particularly in front of the Kuldevta temple. During this event, seven Chors are buried, with one raised on a spear and another lying on a platform adorned with a garland of leaves. The festival commences with an invocation at Wadakade, a location meaning ‘near a Banyan plant.’ Chorotsav, which occurs during Shigmo, is a festival that celebrates the ancestral practice of repentance, and is a must-see event for locals and visitors alike. Mauxi, the historic village where the festival takes place, is popular for its rock art and is conveniently located approximately 66 kms from Panaji, accessible via Valpoi.

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