Betal

Betal (Devanagari: बेताळ, Hindi: वेताल) is a popular folk deity in Goa, Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra and Karwar of Karnataka in India. Images of Betal are naked with an emaciated belly; most sculptures of Betal have a sword in one hand and a bowl in another.

Betal statue, Poinguinim, Goa

History

Betal was a deity of Austroasiatic-speaking Adivasis of the Konkan. An indigenous term for the deity was sanskritised as Vetāla. Betal is a grāmadevatā, a protector deity of the local community.

Tradition

According to tradition, he moves throughout the village at night and keeps vigil on the property of his devotees. The cult of Betal has been very prominent in Goa, animal sacrifices are made to Betal in most places.

Betal is also known as Vetoba in Sindhudurg district.

Agyo Betal is another form of Betal found in Goa.[1]

In Poinguinim, Goa, when wishes are fulfilled the offering is made in the form of leather chappals. It is believed that Betal wears the chappals and roams around the village. When you visit the temple, you can see the chappals are worn out.

Betal chappals at Poinguinim, Goa
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See also

References
  1. Mitragotri, Vithal Raghavendra (1999). A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara. Institute Menezes Braganza. pp. 225–246.
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