Mapusa: In a display of devotion, a sacred coconut fetched Rs 14 lakh at an auction that took place during the anniversary celebrations of Shree Dev Raghugonshet at Pethechawada in Korgao, Pernem, on Sunday evening.The auction at this temple draws large crowds and represents a blend of faith and prestige.Believed to bring prosperity, health, and blessings, these sacred coconuts are highly sought after by devotees in competitive bidding.For the past three years, this revered offering had consistently drawn massive bids of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 11 lakh.However, this year’s frenzy pushed the stakes to an all-time high, with the same local devotee winning the bid for at least three years in a row.The five-day festivities are held annually on Vikata Sankashti Chaturthi in April by the Shetye families and local villagers, drawing participants from across Pernem taluka and beyond.In recent years, the main attraction of the annual celebration has become the auction of the sacred coconut, which is offered during the Satyanarayan mahapuja.“People have faith in this God. When in distress, you just invoke his name and help pours in from all directions. It is that deep faith that makes this devasthan so widely worshipped,” a temple committee member told TOI.Sources stated that the winning bidder later takes the sacred coconut home to be worshipped.Throughout the festivities, devotees offer various items, including fruits, which are also auctioned by the temple committee.The funds raised in the temple auctions are then used for the maintenance and upkeep of the temple, daily activities, and funding community welfare programmes.
