Baina beach comes alive with Chhath Puja prayers

VASCO:  The Chhath Puja is one festival that generates lot of pomp and fervour in Vasco. This year too, the festival revering the Sun god was celebrated in Vasco with several people crowding at the Baina beach for prayers. 

The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun god and his wives Usha and Sandhya to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on the earth. This festival does not involve any idol worship.

The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vrat), standing in water for long periods of time, offering prasad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun. 

Thousands of devotees thronged the Baina beach on Wednesday to celebrate this festival on Tuesday evening.

Colorfully and traditionally dressed women carrying the puja thali with the men of the house accompanying them with fruit laden baskets and most importantly stalks of sugarcane came in well before sunset to offer prayers. 

The port town of Vasco being very cosmopolitan in nature there are many communities who have settled here and celebrate Chhath Puja.  

Though celebrated since many years in Vasco, the festival has gained more colour in the last three years due to the efforts of prominent social worker and Vasco city Councillor Krishna (Daji) Salkar who has taken a keen interest in the celebration of this festival on a grand scale. 

This year Chath Puja celebrations were attended by Minister of Social Welfare Milind Naik.

Daji Salkar told the media that this is one of the most eco-friendly festivals. “Sun is necessary for life on the earth and this festival is a way to pay tribute to Sun irrespective of caste, creed, gender and social stigmas. We provide the devotees a festive atmosphere changing rooms and refreshments at the venue. In keeping with the theme of Swatch Bharat, we clean the beach before the festival as well as once the puja is over,” Salkar said.

The North Indian community in Goa has thanked Daji Salkar for understanding and valuing their sentiments and making them feel at home with all arrangements done at the venue.