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The annual Sangod Utsav, observed on the seventh day of Ganesh Chaturthi, took centre stage along the Cumbharjua Canal, drawing villagers, devotees, and visitors in large numbers. The festival traces the Ganesh Visarjan ritual on the seventh day and has grown into a centuries‑old, vibrant cultural celebration that captures the essence of Goan life through devotion, performance, and community spirit.
Present to witness the spectacle were Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Panchayat; Premendra Shet, MLA Mayem; Kedar Naik, Director Tourism; and Rajesh Faldesai, MLA (Cumbarjua) & Chairman, Goa Rehabilitation Board, alongside Shri Gaurav Kudchadkar (CSR – Deccan Fine Chemicals), Dr Shivaji M Shet (President, Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin Temple), Chandrashekhar Phadte, and local leaders including Sachin Gaude (Sarpanch) and Sudhir Phadte (Dy Sarpanch), supported by Panchayat members and the wider community.
The Shantadurga Kumbharjuvekarin Temple in Marcel serves as the epicentre of this tradition. After rituals and prayers, Lord Ganesh is carried in procession and placed on a sangod, a decorated platform created by joining two traditional canoes. The idol then makes five ceremonial rounds of the canal before immersion.
Each sangod carries elaborate scenes inspired by the Ramayana, Mahabharata, folk tales, and social themes, anchored in traditional religious performance. Young villagers design the floats, enact dramatic scenes, create costumes, and navigate, transforming the canal into a vivid open‑air stage and competing for creative excellence. The event drew significant local and regional spectators, reinforcing Cumbarjua’s identity as a vibrant destination for experiential heritage tourism. Entire wards and families across Golwada, Marcel, Rambhuvanwada and surrounding areas came together, tying boats, rehearsing performances, coordinating rituals, and celebrating shared pride.
The 2025 Sangod Utsav reaffirmed the spirit of devotional theatre on water, preserving a centuries‑old ritual while creatively engaging multiple generations. With government support and improving infrastructure, the festival grows in scale each year, drawing attention from cultural enthusiasts and strengthening sustainable tourism anchored in local identity.
