Team Herald
PONDA: Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar irked by government decision to celebrate Shigmo in only three places—Panjim, Mapusa and Ponda demanded permission to celebrate the festival in rest of the nine talukas of Goa with same zeal and enthusiasm.
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He is sure to pull it with support of businessmen and people so that Shigmo lovers experience the thrill of Shigmo festival. He accused government of being tight-fisted to spend money on State festival and criticizes it drawing parallel with Carnival.
The government has not yet declared the date of celebration for Ponda. Sudin enquired if the government is serious about organizing Shigmo at Ponda, reminding that Pondaites including former Chief Minister Ravi Naik took initiative to celebrate the festival at State level starting from Ponda.
He said if government is not celebrating the festival all over Goa due to Covid reason or as a austerity measure than it should also not organize it at the declared three places too.
He pointed out that the artistes won’t be able to recover the costs if celebrated only in three places. “Each float troupe incurs expenditure of more than Rs 2.5 crore, similary Romatamel incurs heavy cost on dress. They would not afford to bear the cost if contest is organized at only three places.”
