This year has been a generally depressed one. Business sentiment has been generally down but with Ganesh Chaturthi, it’s always different. Purse strings are loosened and people generally make an effort to have a good time. However this year people have been financially conservative. How have people adjusted this year?. Have they gone in for smaller idols? Did they buy idols from their village? Was it different this year?
Prof (Dr) Sushila Sawant Mendes said people were going to their ancestral homes in the villages. The idol in homes was usually small to medium size. She said “They will be celebrating it as usual. I don’t think they are going to follow any social distancing. Because there is rush in the markets for shopping. Looks like life is normal and so also the celebration will be normal. Ganesh chaturthi is the main festival here in Goa and looks like people want to celebrate it with full joy. Goa government had issued an SOP about priests visiting home for the festival, but it’s scraped now”. Speaking about Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, she said she had no idea how it would pan out this year. She said people were aware of the pandemic and so it was important to follow all the sops. Sarvajanik Ganapati’s, she said had traditionally been carried on even last year but with measures in place. She said “Some may go to their villages but I think many are avoiding community travelling and the joint family understands that the situation demands greater caution. Exchanging Ganesh sweets and delicacies have already began heralding the festive spirit among communities. Celebrating Ganesh festivities with pandemic restrictions is the new normal this year without a doubt”.
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Manish Karapurkar a communications consultant said it was undoubtedly the biggest festival in Goa. He said “ It’s the time for many families to go to their native places and celebrate. But this year due to pendamic many families I know have gone in for smaller idols as well as eco-friendly ones, which is a good sign. Even some families who used to go to their native places for longer duration have decided to cut short their stays as well as celebrate with fewer family members. Some have even decided to have their Pooja themselves by playing Pooja CDs. Social distancing will of course be maintained. Let’s hope and pray that Lord Ganapati – God of wisdom & crisis reliever – relieves us all from this pandemic”.
Diksha Gawas said from her standpoint, people who were far away from their native places would be celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at home. She said “Those who are not so far will be visiting their native places, that too if they are fully vaccinated. The deadly virus has not yet gone and as there is a possibility that the cases in Goa could increase because of the third wave so, we have to be very careful and take all the precautions possible”.
Krishna Zore said people were being conservative this year with no social celebration and making do with small and home made idols wherever possible. They were also maintaining social distances. He hoped Ganesha would take Covid along while going.
Rajan Shripad Fulari a professor at the College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow University said Goans across all sections of society looked forward to celebrating the festival. He said” In the given time of the pandemic and social distancing being a Goan residing in Delhi, we are all anxious to celebrate the festival more so the kids. This is one of the ways we try our best to make them aware of our culture and traditions. Surely it will be a close affair with relatives and friends only, as I strongly believe we as citizens have to take care of yourself and our family. It only then we will able to overcome the challenges of COVID-19. Sustainable development should be our primary goals to take care of each other’s. Let’s celebrate and enjoy all festivals by following Covid-19 norms and procedures for making the world better for all of us”.
There has been deviation from the normal but celebrations will be conducted taking into consideration the realities of the time.
