Matoli from Betoda

Rajendra P Kerkar

400 items decorated the Matoli in Betoda

In Goa, there is a rich tradition of decorating the wooden canopy over the head of Ganesh idol with a variety of seasonal floral wealth available in the forms of wild as well as cultivated forms.


In Betoda of Ponda, Ranganath Gaonkar has tied almost 400 items to the Matoli which are known to possess medicinal aesthetic, cultural as well as economical values. Since generations their family is working in the agricultural and horticultural fields. They grows different fruits, flowers and food grains. Though, by toiling hard in the soil, we get good harvest, they have the belief that during the festival when they tie to the matoli leaves, flowers, fruits, the Lord Ganesh bless on them the bounty of the nature. Since last more than a decade, Gaonkar family take pain in decorating the matoli meticulously that attracts many people to visit our house.


This year, Ranganath Gaonkar and his family by making use of biodegradable materials has decorated the Makhar. However, through the matoli, efforts done by him to display the floral heritage has won the appreciation of the devotees visiting his house. In Betoda, Ranganath Gaonkar and his family living in the tune with the nature has long recognized the significance of plants in their vicinity as they are providing food, medicine, shelter, clothing and are life giving and life sustaining.


The most of items that are displayed in the matoli are available in and around his village and some of the items has collected from far away places. As Lord Ganesh is the representation of the vegetative wealth and biodiversity of the land, the arrival of new seasonal fruits and flowers have been given place in the matoli for expressing the gratitude.


Betoda, basically land of agriculture and forest. However, today with the onset of the industrial estate this natural wealth has been threatened. The tribal as well as other communities living in the village has protected the natural wealth inherited by them from the generations and the matoli decoration is the occasion where in this traditional knowledge has been displayed.