Chikal kalo is strongly linked to an element of Mother Nature, the mud. On Ashadi Ekadashi, the singing of the bhajans begins at noon by lighting the lamp of the temple. The singing continues through the night and ends on the next day at 12 a.m. people from the marcel enter the temple to dance and sing around the lamp that is lit and offer a prayer to Goddess Devaki. while praying and dancin
g take a small amount of oil from the lamp and rub it on their arms with the belief that Devaki will protect them from all dangers. The most ridiculously fun and amusing mud bath, the monsoon festival of Chikal Kalo (also spelled Chikhalkala) is celebrated only in Goa on the very next day of "aashadhi ekadashi" that is on the 12th day of month of Aashadh. This festival celebrates the fun and games that Lord Krishna and his friends used to have whilst playing in the fields during the monsoon season. The heavy monsoon rains that Goa receives turns the ground into a pool of mud especially in the unpaved open spaces, and this is the venue for this festival, right outside the Devaki Krishna Temple, which is one of its kind. Besides the pujas and other religious observances traditional games are played and a gala time is had by players and spectators alike. The games are riotous, with plenty of dunkings taking place amongst the players accompanied by frenzied cheers from the crowds who also carry sweets and fruits to throw to the players. Although it is a Hindu festival, all the residents of Marcel turn out to participate in the festivities regardless of caste, creed and religions. It celebrates uniformity and getting one with the nature.
