CHANDOR: In the spirit of Diwali, Ganv Bhavancho Ekvott organised a Walkathon through the twin villages of Chandor-Guirdolim, aiming to spread the message of communal harmony and peace amidst the current challenges of communal vitriol in the country.
The Walkathon, themed ‘For communal harmony, peace, and unity’ saw 89 participants covering a distance of 6.5 kms in 77 minutes. Beginning at 4.22 pm from the Chandor Church compound, the route traversed through the Sunni Jamia Masjid and Mahalaxmi temple, representing places of worship for the three main religions in the area.
Participants, ranging from 6-year-old Rylan Abner to 73-year-old Basil Fernandes, demonstrated unity by visiting these sacred sites.
During the walk, Kalandar Hawaldar, a local Muslim interacted with walkers at the masjid while Sandeep Kalekar, a member of the Devasthan, engaged with the participants as they halted at these places. Drinking water and washrooms were also arranged near both these spots for the walkers to freshen up.
Addressing the walkers at the valedictory program, GBE President John Fernandes stressed the need for cleanliness and responsible waste disposal. The Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch of Guirdolim, along with local panchayat members, actively participated in the event.
The event also witnessed the participation of Fr Siran Rebello and Fr Ankit D’Souza along with 11 brothers from the Pallotti Jyoti Niwas at Guirdolim, who completed the trek. Spot prizes were distributed, acknowledging various aspects, including the first registrant, birthdays, the oldest and youngest participants. Youngsters Angelina Costa and Abner Fijardo were given special prizes in recognition of their powers of observation as they correctly named the masjid and
temple where the walkers had halted.
Project managers for the event—Francis ‘Hanchik’ Peixote, Damacian ‘Cian’ Mascarenhas, and Fiel ‘Babazinho’ Dias—successfully orchestrated the Walkathon, celebrating brotherhood and communal harmony during the festive season.