The traditional ‘Sheni Uzo’ festival is celebrated in the village of Molcornem-Quepem on the full moon night before Holi. People, mostly from the village, head to the remote Mallikarjun Temple to celebrate the festival. Incidentally, elders as well as children participate in the Sheni Uzo festival, as the Sheni Uzo has religious importance and is also believed to protect oneself from diseases and other ailments. The traditional ritual involves devotees bringing tall arecanut palms (Holika) and placing them in the Maand. Dry cow dung cakes (Sheni) are then set ablaze (Uzo) and embers of the Sheni Uzo fall on the bodies of devotees, while they dance to the tunes of traditional music. Some time later, locals brush dried cowdung cakes (Sheni) lot with fire to create sparks and this is why the festival came to be known as ‘Sheni Uzo'.

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