Goa, March 27 -- Molcornem, a village in Quepem, played host to a unique and ancestral village ritual, 'Sheni Uzo'. The festivities are held around the Mallikarjun temple. The ceremony begins with the creation of sparks at all the shrines in the village, starting with the shrine of Zalmi, which is considered to be the founding father of the village.

Areca nut tree trunks from the plantations of select families are chosen every year and the ritual of carrying the trunks around the temple is a big part of the ceremony. The trunks are thrown in the air and are caught as they come down accompanied by a drum beat that is unique of their village customs.

The devotees use dried cow dung cakes known as 'sheni' and leaves that when hit against e...