For a State that is more identified by its Iberian-inspired culture, a festival like Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated with equal fervour can easily go unnoticed to those not familiar with the State.
While not as massive as its counterparts in Konkan Maharahstra or Mumbai, the festival without doubt inspires as much devotion in the length and breadth of Goa as any.
With young men already at work on Sarvajanik Ganesh pandals and market abuzz with shoppers last minute shopping necessary to welcome the lord into their homes with vegetables, fruits and an ornate throne.
The festival beginning on Monday, ranges from one and a half day in some families to a whole three weeks in others marked by poojas, exchanges of sweets among neighbours as Hindus believe that lord Ganesh bestows his presence on earth for all his devotees during this festival period.
The festival commemorates feast of this elephant-headed god with Mooshak (rat) as his vehicle. legend has is that he was created by Goddess Parvati from the sandalwood dough. It was she who infused life in Ganesha and asked him to guard at the door. When lord Shiva returned and was stopped by this unknown child Ganesha, Shiva in rage cut off his head. Parvati then asked Shiva to bring him to life again which he did by implanting the head of an elephant on Ganesha’s body.
This re-birth of Ganesha is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as ‘Vinayaka Chaturthi’ or ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’.However, for Goans it is more than just commemorating the entry of Ganesh into their houses.
“For us Goans the best part of Ganesh Chaturthi festival is the reunion of families that all come together to their ancestral families cousins and distant relatives all come under one roof in perhaps the only time each year,” Deepa Dessai, a devotee who ardently celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi said.
like every the State Government had declared a ban on the sale of idols made of Plaster of Paris, which cause environmental degradation on account of the fact that they do not dissolve.
Any person found manufacturing, transporting, stocking and selling or displaying such idols shall be punishable in terms of Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and their licences granted to them for the establishments/ chitrashala shall be cancelled and the idols made of PoP shall be confiscated.
Meanwhile, the Goa Police had a high-level meeting in connection with security during the Ganesh festival, at police headquarters in the capital.The Sarvajanik Mandals have been asked follow all security measures such installing CCTVs, deploying volunteers, frisking visitors and following queue system among others.
All the police stations have been instructed to beef up security at all festive locations and other places as well, while also heighten beat patrolling. Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr OP Mishra has said that special patrolling has also been instructed to all police officials,” a police official said.
