25 Oct 2020  |   03:54am IST

Festivals sans festivities will be the norm in 2020

The virus has managed to change the rhythms of life and the great Indian festivals have been affected too. Café spoke to Goans to ask them how they were planning to celebrate various festivals or if the virus has put paid to their plans thus ensuring it was all a washout.

Ajit John

The festival season is on or is it. Navratri ends on Saturday and it is Dusserah on Sunday.   This also marks the end of Durga Puja.  What is remarkable has been the absence of excitement in the state. These days which are marked with great joy has passed by like any other days. The puja pandals are not in sight and the dandiya raas has not been played anywhere.  Next month the entire country will celebrate Diwali and later on in December, it will be time for Christmas. But will the celebrations be visible? Will the unbridled joy of celebration be witnessed. The virus has certainly changed everything for everyone.

Rajesh Barad a student at a local college said this year was unusual because this year he did not go to play dandiya raas. He said “Every year, I would go out every night and play and it used to be great fun but this year due to the virus, nothing moved. People are scared and worried.  I think the rest of the year will pass off like this. We usually celebrate Diwali with great pomp with relatives coming over but this year it will be low key. We will call each other and take care. This virus has certainly changed everything. I will have to agree that 20202 have witnessed a washout. I hope we don’t have to experience this next year.”

Bernard Simoes an automotive researcher felt that in comparison to years gone by this year would be remarkably toned down. He said, “Maybe a few people have toned down their celebrations but I am sure there are also people who will decide to go ahead and celebrate in the usual fashion”. He said Christmas was some time away and perhaps by then the situation could improve but it would make sense if people exercised caution. He said, “It will be low key and parties might take place in residences but otherwise the usual Christmas feeling will not be in evidence.”   

Prajval  Desai felt it was important that people release that they would have to deal with the virus and make the necessary adjustments to their lives. She said “I was complaining in the beginning but then I soon realized it made no sense to do so because you have to understand there are people in situations far worse than us. We will have to be careful this year and next year will be better. I am feeling very positive about it all and feeling better. It is better to be low key this year and celebrate the festivals next year”.

Shane D costa a resident of Panjim said the time was just not right for celebrations given the reach of the virus. He said “Christmas is very important to me and I will listen to the advice given by the church and follow it. We have sent a letter to the Bishop requesting permission to conduct midnight mass but so far we have not received an answer. This year has been bad and it would be prudent to just lay low.  Christmas is in December and let’s hope the situation improves”    

Shubha Rathod a student from Goa now in Karnataka said it was all about education. She said “Here in Karnataka people are celebrating Navratri. People are ignoring social distancing and sops. They know the consequences and still behave like this. If you want to do this please follow the rules and regulations. Diwali can be celebrated too but by following all the precautions. It may seem weird but then this is a strange year and it is better to be careful than sorry. We should write this year off and focus on the future. I will have to agree that it has been a washout for all the festivals”.

Festivals are an occasion to celebrate and in India, all the festivals are celebrated with great gusto and people tend to forget all the precautions that ought to be taken and it would make sense if everyone exercised caution and celebrated with great gusto in the years ahead.