PANJIM, SEPT 20
This Lord Ganesh Idol is perhaps the grandest when it comes to its immersion.
Policemen at Panjim police station knew no barriers may be environment pollution or spending when their Lord Ganesh passed through streets of Panaji.
Accompanied by a jeep load of fire crackers, pick up loaded with the deafening music by a DJ and procession cruising through No Entry lanes, Elephant headed God made his way through Panaji city on Saturday.
Youths, few of whom were without shirts, dancing infront of another pick up with Ganesh Idol moving at snail’s pace and load of fire crackers, rockets and bomb explosions on the way was the scene when city’s men manning law and order bid good bye to the God, whose worship is synonym with worshipping nature.
For almost half an hour, lane next to earlier El Dorado theatre was blocked as the procession came through the No Entry road.
It took almost two and half hours for the procession, which clearly showed the might of police to reach from Panaji police station to jetty after it traversed through lanes of military head quarters, busy lanes of Panaji market, 18th June road, a lane next to CCP and finally the road to jetty from police headquarters.
Although the grand procession between 7pm and 9:30pm was indicating huge expense no officer was in a position to clarify where did the money come from for fire crackers worth lakhs of rupees.
Superintendent of Police (North) Arvind Gauns politely said that he has no idea as it is duty of respective police stations to man the festivities.
And when contacted, Panaji police station incharge Sandesh Chodankar was visibly upset over the query.
“I have no comments to offer on jeep load of fire crackers,” he said.
When asked about source of money, he retaliated “don’t ask me such questions over phone. Come and meet me at the police station.”
Police station sources said that 100-150 police personnel drawn from police station, traffic and head quarters participated in the procession.
