MAYEM, SEPT 8
Bicholim villages and surrounding areas are gearing up to celebrate Ganesh festival with zeal and enthusiasm.
The preparation for the Ganesh festival has already started with village farmers busy collecting Matoli material (traditional forest plants, which are put up above the Ganesh idol). The collected matoli material is then sold to the people in the market premises.
These rare species comprising forest plants and fruits comes from remote areas like Latambarcem, Kudchirem, Aai, Matne, Kharpal and surrounding villages and out of the money earned after selling matoli material, the villagers celebrate their Ganesh Chaturthi.
Matoli material includes ropes of Kevni tree, which are used to tie matoli materials consisting of betel nuts, Kangoni, Kavndal, Nagul Kuda, Kallawi, Bhendi, Mauling, Sharwad Chiddo and other forest fruits to the square-shaped wooden frame, which is installed above the Ganesh idol.
Ganesh artists are busy giving final touches to the Ganesh idols, even as some devotees from far away places have already taken away the idols to their homes.
There are several artists in Bicholim village, who prepares Ganesh idols. One among them is Ladu Harishchandra Kudaskar from Bordem-Bicholim, who is expert in designing eyes of Lord Ganesh.
This SSC passed artist achieved this art from his uncle Shivanand Harmalkar and cousin Yeshwant and presently is in great demand from all over the State and Maharashtra.
Market in Bicholim, besides Matoli material, is flooded with different stalls of fire items, decoration materials, electrical items and vegetables, fruits, flowers with the crowd thronging towards purchasing them to celebrate Ganesh festival.
The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samiti Bicholim and Sanquelim is also busy preparing the stage for Ganesh festival with various meetings. Meanwhile, Shravan month was celebrated with variety of religious rituals in temples and homes.
Festivals like Nagpanchami, Gokulashtami, Sunday worships, Mangalagauri, Jayanchi Pooja and Gandha Pooja were held with variety of religious rituals.
Most Hindu families also observed fast with vegetarian food throughout the month, which will be over only after Anantchaturdashi day.
