Zatra

Infobox Holiday
holiday_name = Zatra
type = Deity Procession


caption =
official_name =
nickname =
observedby = Hinduism
begins =
ends =
date = October - March
date2008 = April 14
date2009 =
celebrations = 1 day
observances =
relatedto = Diwali

Zatra is the Konkani language term for the pilgrimage festivals celebrated at Hindu temples in Goa; the Hindi and Marathi language equivalents are "Yatra" and "Jatra".

During the Zatra, the idol(s) or murtis of the Hindu deity or deities are taken out on special procession either in a "Palkhi" (sort of a Palanquin) or in a large, multi-storied chariot called the Rath.

Traditionally, every temple observes this festival once a year on the traditional day. All zatras usually occur after Diwali in October and continues until the Shigmo festival in March.

The most famous Zatra of Goa is that of the temple of the Hindu deiy Damodar at Zambaulim, a place located roughly 40 km away from Margao when people walk on burning coals with bare legs.

Also occurring during the Zatra is the phenomenon of possession, usually but not exclusively of women, by the spirit of the deity; this is called "Bhar", whereby they act as oracles and claim to predict furture events.

Outside of Goa, the most famous Zatra is the Rath Yatra of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Orissa, India, which contributed the word "Juggernaut" to the English language.