I live in sal village which is located in bicholim taluka. this village is famous for gadeustsav and ghost. gadeutsav is three night festival. it is a tribute to the ghost and holy spirit. it is also known as the hide & seek game between gade and devchar. gade are the residents of the village, who are clad in white dhoti and black belt around their waist.it is believed that the spirit of god enters in their body when they start dancing around the holy accompanied by traditional music.devchar is the devil which is set free during these days and also after this festival.
first gade brings idols from the jungle, they are placed near the holi. By the time gade returns with the idols, some of them are already hidden by devchar. Thus in this way, the game of hide and seek between gade and devchar starts.After reaching the specific place, devchar gives back the hidden gade. In Sal, there are places like Madyar, Bavyar, Jathar and Athyan, where gade are hidden by devchar. Sometimes, devchar hides gade for three days and the hidden gade remains there without any food and water. Other gade bring him back and drag him around the holi, after which he comes back to his senses and starts dancing around the holi.
On the last night, all the hidden gade are brought back, if any of them does not reach the holi before dawn, then he is considered dead.It is also said that the music of dholak should not stop for the entire night and if it happens, then there is a possibility of all gade being lost in the jungle.
On the last night, besides witnessing the light shown by devchar they also get a chance to hear the sound of ghosts from the nearby cemetery. On the last night, gade goes to the cemetery to bring bones or wood. It is said that the ghosts give the bones to them. If ghosts deny to give them the bones, gade beat them up.
Many people hide themselves near the cemetery to listen to the cries of the ghosts, which resembles the cry of people who are dead from the village. later, gade takes the bones and dumps into a nearby well. They also take back the idols and keep them in their original place. At the end, gade lay asleep near the holi and when people around blow air into their ears they come back to their senses. it is said that after the festival, people from Sal do not have to fear of ghosts throughout the year as they are tied up by gade.
