-- Samir Umarye Sattari locals, environmentalists differ over moves to hold Mahashivratri in forest area; Locals found ancient idols in area and want to build temple at site; Environmentalists fear that such activity would lead to deterioration of the rich forest cover
SAMIR UMARYE BICHOLIM Villagers in a remote part of Sattari taluka are determined to celebrate the festival of Mahashivratri at an unusual place, nearly 5 kms inside a forest. However, moves by villagers to clean the forest area where some centuries- old idols lie have dawn censure from environmentalists, who fear that such activity would lead to deterioration of the rich forest cover. Mahashivratri will be celebrated on Tuesday, but what makes the celebrations unique in Savardem village, some 15 kms from Valpoi, is the villagers’ determination to revive and promote this festival at a place called ‘ Zadanche Mal’, where they claim that their ancestors lived. “ Reaching there is tough as there is no proper road from the village. A person has to walk for about 5 kms just to reach the site,” Ganesh Paryekar from Savardem told Herald. Paryekar recalls how some of them had found the place, which has some ancient idols. “ We used to come here for fishing and when we found this place with a Shiv Linga, Nandi and several other statues of gods, we decided to clean this area,” said Paryekar. “ Some years back, eight of us went to the site during Shivratri at night and in the morning we performed the pooja and other rituals.” Despite the absence of proper access, the locals have been able to construct a small shed after getting the required material from the village. They believe that their ancestors lived at the site and had left behind the idols as a reminder to future generations. “ We have heard that a plague had spread in the area, forcing people living there to abandon everything and move to some other place. Now, the people from Savardem want to do their rituals at the site,” said Paryekar. “ Thisyear, we expect an increase in the number of devotees visiting the site and we are trying to make the necessary preparations for the festival.” Another local, Sitaram Gawas, said the place was hidden from everyone and added that there are three such devasthans in the area. “ Now, the place has been cleaned and this year, we expect devotees from other villages to visit the site and pay homage to god Shiva on the night of Shivratri,” said Gawas. Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar confirmed that there are three such places, Zadani, Pandran and Kadval, in the taluka, where people lived a long time ago. “ As per the recent census, The idols found at ' Zadanche mal' in Savardem village of Sattari. ( Inset) The Nandi found at ' Zadanche mal'. we do not find any human habitation at Zadani and Pendran, while there is mention of only one house at Kadval. The Shiva Linga and other statues found in the area could date back to some 700- 800 years earlier. The area is very remote and it only suggests that many years ago, people living there may have abandoned the place,” Kerkar said. While the villagers are determined to celebrate Mahashivratri and plan to construct a temple at ‘ Zadanche Mal’, Kerkar has insisted that the area should be kept free of all pollution and human interference. “ According to the rules, the entire forest area is a protected site and a wildlife sanctuary. Hence, a temple cannot be constructed there. These areas need protection and should be kept away from noise, water and all other pollution. People should understand this and worship nature as their god,” Kerkar said. He insisted that the government and the archaeology department intervene to protect the site at ‘ Zadanche Mal’.“ Such sites should not be renovated as it would only lead to deterioration of our rich ecology. The archaeology department should take possession of the Shiv Linga and other statues and preserve them at Panjim,” Kerkar said. SAMEER UMARyE
