There is a unique practice of throwing chicks on the sanctum sanctorum at a fair in the city. Â The practice of throwing chicks on the sanctum sanctorum at the Vadgavi Aradhya Devi Mangai Devi fair has been going on for a long time.
The Mangai Devi Fair begins every year from Tuesday, which comes after the full moon day of the month of Ashadha. Devotees from the neighbouring states of Goa and Maharashtra also come in large numbers for the grand fair. The fair is held for four days from Tuesday to Friday. It is believed by the people here that Goddess Mangai, who has immense causality, fulfills the wishes of the devotees.
Unique custom:Â One of the features of this temple is the hoisting of chicks on the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Earlier, sheep and chickens were sacrificed to the goddess. However, after the ban, now devotees hoist the chicks on the mother’s sanctum sanctorum to fulfill their vows.
Goddess Mangai at Patil Gali in Vadagavi is popularly known as the ‘Goddess of The Mother’s House’. The fair of the goddess is mostly attended by girls. Most of the girls who got married from Belagavi district to different places return home in the month of Ashadha and come back to their hometown fairs. That is why this Goddess Mangai is called the goddess of the house.
Shobha Ekbote, a devotee, said, Mangai is our village deity. Â Â Every year we come to the fair and fill up the udi. It has been a practice since time immemorial that after the wishes of the Goddess are fulfilled, they fly the chick and pay off the harike, she said.
