Pandharicha pava mark Diwali celebration of the Dhangar.

Pandharicha pava mark Diwali celebration of the Dhangar.

The Dhangar community living near the grazing lands in tune with the nature once in three years assemble to celebrate the worship of their presiding deity Mhalachi Pandhar and the performance of the traditional folk dance Pandharicha pava.

The Dhangar who are among the other backward communities has the rich and varied tradition of the folk culture deeply rooted in the soil. Every after three years various folk dance troupes of Dhangar community assemble at the sacred place in front of the house of the family that is hosting the celebration of Pandharicha pava.

Among the Dhangar's of Goa, Mhalachi Pandhar is the  formless mother godess. However during the festive occasion, she is being invoked on the woolen carpet with the rice-grains and finger millets spread as per the established tradition. A priest of the community ask the deity to bless the members of the family and the community present for the occasion with good health and prosperity. The clan deities in the forms of metal and stone that are worshipped on few occasions in a year are removed and kept under the wooden canopy tied to the ceiling with the bunches of coconut.

After which invited folk dance performing troupes dresses in the traditional costumes on the music created by the percussion musical instruments like the Dhols and a bronze plate by chanting the names of their clans deities and Mhalachi Pandhar . The folk dance performing troupes from various parts of Goa and Konkan speaking the uniform Dhangar dialect displaying enactment of the moment of the buffalos present the folk dance. 

All the male dancers wear white cotton cloak called the Zago and put the anklet in their legs called the Vakyo.

 In Dodamarg at Dhatwada, Gangaram Kharvat had hosted the socio-cultural event of Pandharicha pava by inviting troupes from Goa and Konkan. Nana Babu Varak of 72 years of age from Sonar Bhat of Latambarce in Bicholim speaking to TOI said “ Though this folk dance is popular as the Chapai in Goa, when it is organised by invoking Mhalachi Pandhar, we call it as Pandharicha pava. This dance reflect religious and cultural identities. Of the pastoral communities.