116th Dindi Mahotsav at Shree Harimandir Devasthan Margao

• The 116th Dindi Mahotsav at Shree Harimandir Devasthan, Margao, is being held from 30 October to 4 November 2025 , with the main palkhi procession on 3 November . Now recognised as a state-level festival by the Government of Goa, the event draws thousands of devotees for processions, bhajans, and cultural performances centered on Kartiki Ekadashi .

Festival Oversight and Arrangements

• South Goa district authorities, in coordination with temple committees, have implemented detailed crowd, traffic, and security plans . Police, fire, and medical teams are stationed along the route, with volunteers managing barricades, queues, sanitation, and first-aid counters. Lighting, CCTV monitoring, and park-and-walk systems are in place to ensure smooth movement and safety.

Ritual and Procession Route

• The palkhi of Shree Vithal-Rakhumai begins at Shree Harimandir, Pajifond, after evening rituals. It passes through traditional halts such as Damodar Saal before reaching Shree Vithal Mandir at Comba for the early-morning aarti. After night-long bhajans, the palkhi returns to Pajifond by forenoon. Devotees accompany it in dindi pathaks , singing abhangs and playing traditional instruments.

Cultural and Community Participation

• The Mahotsav features gaayan and bhajani baithaks , children’s and women’s dindi competitions , and devotional music recitals by local artists. Community kitchens serve free meals, while youth groups manage water points, first-aid, and lost-and-found desks. Local businesses and residents assist pilgrims with extended services and resting areas.

Significance and Heritage

• The Margao Dindi traces its origins to early 20th-century Varkari traditions, begun by Goans who could not travel to Pandharpur for Kartiki wari. Over more than a century, it has become a major religious and cultural event in Salcete, symbolising community devotion and continuity.

Exam-Oriented Facts

• Festival dates: 30 October–4 November 2025

• Main palkhi day: 3 November 2025

• Organising temple: Shree Harimandir Devasthan, Pajifond, Margao

• Recognised: State-level festival, Government of Goa (2025)

• Route: Pajifond–Comba–Pajifond (night-long procession)