The festival of colours
Holi is one of the biggest festivals that celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated with much pomp by Hindus all across the globe and is one of the biggest festivals in India after Diwali.
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Holi is a celebration of the divine love between Lord Krishna and Radha and the victory of good over evil. It is also marked as a harvest festival, commemorating spring’s arrival and the end of winter. It will be observed on March 7-8, depending on the region.
Holi celebrations are carried out in different manners in different parts of the country. Today’s Holi festival has its roots in a few different Hindu legends, including the story of Prahalad and Holika. The festival is a time of great merriment and revelry as people of all ages come together to celebrate.
The use of colours is a symbol of the shedding of past mistakes and the embracing of new beginnings. May this festival of Holi serve as a reminder to let go of grudges and come together to spread joy and love. Holi is also called “Queen festival of the year”, “Festival of Colors”, “Festival of Love”. Even the temples of ancient India have sculptures of Holi on walls. One of this is a temple from the 16th century in Hampi, Karnataka.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Is the Mhadei sanctuary fire an act of sabotage?
A major fire reportedly broke out on large swathes of forest close to Satre village in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary on the Goa- Karnataka border affecting the flora and fauna there. The government of Goa established the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in the forests spread within the Mhadei River basin in the year 1999.
It was established with an objective to protect Tigers living in this area. Water from the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary cannot be diverted as per provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act. Several other permissions including that from Chief Wildlife Warden are required. Incidentally, the Chief Wildlife Warden cannot grant such permission in case of Mhadei water as it will amount to the diversion of water for purposes other than the wildlife sanctuary. That is a strong point in favour of Goa in the fight to stop the diversion of the Mhadei river water. It is learnt that the fire at the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is a ground fire and some persons have set the cashew plantation afire which spread to the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
The question that arises is whether the fire was a deliberate act of sabotage by those who want the Mhadei water to be diverted to Karnataka.
Is it an attempt to weaken Goa’s cause in the fight against the diversions of Mhadei water? After the fire is doused off, an enquiry into the reason for the fire needs to be carried out and those involved in the act booked.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Panaji in a health and safety mess
It is appalling that the authorities are so insensitive to the plight being faced by the residents and those commuting to Panaji. All the roads of Panaji are recklessly dug and posing a danger to us all. There is not a road that remains to be dug. The immense dust that the city is enveloped in poses a health hazard. Roads caving due to Smart city works is a serious risk to life and property.
Seeing the perilous and ravaged state of the city, the situation even in war torn Ukraine may possibly be better. In the name of making Panaji a Smart City, the coffers are being merrily emptied in a tearing hurry causing misery to us all.
The MLA, Mayor, Councillors and the Smart City officials will never be pardoned for the pain and anguish that the people of Panaji are enduring.
God forbid if Panaji gets even a light shower, the city will be thrown out of gear with the catastrophic mess that will be faced. A man-made disaster it will be. There is nothing smart about corruption or an attempt to fool Goans. Gambling with people’s lives and property while milking the system is dangerous and unacceptable. It is inevitable that pathetic workmanship with no quality control and where self-interest is paramount will prove to be a disaster. Panjimites deserve a lot better and to be safer.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Reckless driving is dangerous
This has reference to the article ‘Accidents galore! Drive slow; drive safe’ (O Heraldo 6 March 2023). A good, informative piece from Joseph Lewis D’Silva. Yes, accidents happen due to various reasons like a disturbed state of mind. However, the mindless, reckless driving of young motorists zigzagging their way through, is cause for concern. As it is, the roads may not be in good condition, maybe ridden with potholes or oil spill. In such circumstances, it is dangerous to drive recklessly, both for the rider and for the people walking along. However, the authorities cannot abdicate their responsibility but the motorists ought to take precautions themselves.
Helmets for example, are meant for the safety of the rider but yet we see riders without a helmet or the helmet lying next to their feet. I’ve pulled up several of them and advised them that his own life is at risk. The other day, I came across a woman rider without a helmet and gently brought it to her attention. Her response was strange! – it is an electric scooter so helmet is not required! Does that prevent any injury to the rider in case of an accident occurring on account of a rash truck or a dumper driver, or the potholes? Food for Thought!
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Widely predicted victory for Cong
The resounding win by the Congress in the recent by-poll to the Erode (East) Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu was widely predicted. In fact, the by-poll had attracted everyone’s attention since it was seen as a precursor to the 2024 LS polls. The Congress’s striking win can be perceived as a reflection of a strong pro-incumbency sentiment prevailing not only in Erode, but throughout Tamil Nadu. Perhaps, Chief Minister M K Stalin’s announcement during his eleventh hour campaign on the launch date of Rs 1,000 monthly honorarium for women heads of families, which is one of the key promises made by the DMK in its election manifesto ahead of the 2021 TN assembly election, must have boosted Congress’s thumping win. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami has to do a lot of soul-searching for the AIADMK’s ignominious defeat in the election.
The retrieval of the party’s popular ‘two leaves’ symbol hasn’t helped him in any way in realizing his dream of winning the by-poll, but on the contrary the defeat has shattered him and his coterie for the manner in which the AIADMK lost the election in its supposed strong Kongu western bastion. It is a pity that the AIADMK, which was founded and built by the matinee idol M G Ramachandran, and nurtured by the tenacious Jayalalithaa, is in shambles today, broken into smithereens.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
