The Fatorpa Zatra, a temple festival of Goddess Shantadurga Kunkalikarin, is celebrated in which state?

The Fatorpa Zatra is a famous temple festival held at the Shri Shantadurga Kunkalikarin temple in the village of Fatorpa, in the Quepem taluka of South Goa. It is held every year, usually in December-January, and attracts thousands of devotees from Goa and neighbouring states.

A "zatra" (jatra) is an annual temple festival, in which the deity is taken out of the temple in a procession, often in a decorated chariot (rath) or palanquin (palkhi). Zatras are a central part of the religious and social life of the Hindu community of Goa. During the Fatorpa Zatra, the image of the goddess is carried in procession, and devotees offer prayers, flowers and offerings. A large fair is held around the temple, with stalls selling sweets, toys, household goods and clothes, and there are cultural programmes and devotional music.

Goddess Shantadurga is a form of Goddess Durga or Parvati, worshipped as a peacemaker. According to legend, she brought peace between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu when they were fighting. The goddess of Fatorpa was originally worshipped at Cuncolim, but her image was moved to Fatorpa in the 16th century to protect it from destruction during the Portuguese rule. Many Goan temples were moved inland in this way during the period of Portuguese religious persecution.

Goa has a rich tradition of zatras and Hindu festivals, such as the Shigmo (spring festival), Ganesh Chaturthi (Chavath) and Diwali (with the burning of Narakasura effigies), as well as Christian festivals such as the Goa Carnival and the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Kerala is known for temple festivals such as the Thrissur Pooram.
• ✗Maharashtra is known for festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Gudi Padwa.
• ✗Karnataka is known for festivals such as Mysuru Dasara and Karaga.