The Chikhal Kalo or mud play is held in the huge open ground in front of the Sri Devki Krishna Temple of Marcel, at about 10 a.m. in the morning and ends by 2 p.m. It is said that the original location of the Sri Devki Krishna Temple deity, dedicated to the mother of Lord Krishna, was at Chorao Island and was shifted to the safer Ponda Taluka during the religious persecution period. The deity idol portrayal here is unique.
Chikhal Kalo is usually held on the 12th day (Dwadashi) of the bright half of the fourth Hindu calendar month of Ashada. This approximately falls in the month of July of the Gregorian calendar. The start of the festivities commences a day before on the 11th day or Ekadashi or Ashadi Ekadashi. On that day, at noon, the Akhand Bhajan or a continuous and unbroken 24-hours singing of religious hymns in the temple is initiated. The villagers take turns to carry on the singing, across the night till noon of the next day.
Applying the oil offers immunity from any cuts and scratches during the mud play. The devotees then gather near the Sri Daad Sakhalyo shrine on the ground and go to the Sri Devki Krishna Temple in a procession singing hymns, circumambulate and enter it.
Inside the temple, there is hectic dancing by devotees around a big brass oil lamp. Once this is done, there is a rush to apply the sacred oil from this lamp on their bodies, before proceeding to the open ground. At times, when the rain god lets the festivities down, and there is no rain, water tankers are brought to pour water on the ground to create the muck. On the open ground, there is a high masonry platform around a peepul tree which is used to shower the participants with fruits and local sweetmeats which are especially made for the festival.
In addition to the dancing, traditional games like chendu fali (quite like cricket) and gilli danda are played. The slippery slush surface causes the participants to fall and get covered with mud repeatedly - which they all want more of. After all, falling and rolling in mud is the essence of the ritual, hence the name Chikal Kalo. The games are a riot and have people of all ages participating.
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