The streets and markets were jam-packed with buyers who were bargaining for the best deal on the eve of the Chaturthi on Sunday.
The capital of the State witnessed traffic snarls at several places. More so as two of the ferries have been stalled besides the city’s main road leading to Miramar from Panjim KTC.
Margao, Mapusa, Ponda and Vasco also witnessed make-shift temporary stalls selling firecrackers.
Meanwhile, Goa Police have taken strict security measures during the festive season. There are dozens of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandals across the State at prime places which are the main crowd-pullers. Special police bandobast has been taken, a senior police officer told Herald.
After two days of celebrations, the organizers of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav organize various entertainment programmes and competitions. Most of the police stations across Goa are also celebrating Chaturthi and will be holding various promgrammes and competitions at the PS premises.
“Besides celebration and performing puja of lord Ganesh at police stations, we holding events and competitions which create a wonderful bonding between the common man and the men-in-khaki. It helps us perform our duty better if the common man gets to know the cops better,” said police inspector of Porvorim police station, Jivba Dalvi.
Political parties and aspiring candidates found a wonderful platform to woo and connect with their voters through Chaturthi. Freebies and sops were being doled out.
Prominent politicians like Milind Naik, Ravi Naik and others were seen distributing goodies.
Buses leaving for Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore were completely booked. There were people looking for tickets even at a premium. As air ticket prices had gone up manifold, people were finding it hard to travel and hence bus operators were a happy lot!
Konkan Railway Corporation Limited is also running special trains connecting Goa and Mumbai enroute Konkan, where the festival is celebrated with equal fervor.
The political parties which had kicked off their poll campaign have taken a break for now.
“The formal campaigning has stopped. But the MLAs and the party leaders on their own would be visiting families, They have always been busy meeting people when there are occasions,” BJP Goa General Secretary Sadanand Tanawade said.
The Congress Goa spokesman Trajano D’Mello said the party will not conduct door-to- door campaign till the end of September. “You campaign in the midst of a festive season,” he said.
