Dhindi

Another important festival of the Goan Hindu community is the dhindi.The most famous is the one celebrated at Margao at Shri Hari Mandir.It is being celebrated since 1909.The festivity goes on for seven days, durin which musical programmes, sangeet baithakas of bhajans are sung, and artists are invited to perform.

The artists come from other states of India too. In the past years well known national and international singers have performed at the dhindi festival. The festival culminates in a procession when a palki of the deity vends her way around the city. The route taken starts at Hari Mandir and ends at the temple of Vithal Mandir from where it returns back to Hari Mandir.

Dhindi is a festival in which bhajans are sung on the road. A palki is carried and the singers position in front of it and sing the bhajans, after every step along with a crowd of people who accompany the procession. The dhindi has a palki of the main deity and various palkis with chitram of saints that are carried in the procession. the name dhindi, used to play the bhajans.

This festival is so important to the citizens of Margao, that married daughters come to spend some days during the festival in their hometown. To attract more devotees and make the festivities livelier, clubs and social institutions organize various programmes as part of entertainment. Cinema houses even have extra shows and the Municipal Council organizes fireworks.