TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Monsoon showers, rising prices and ban on mining has no impact on the festive spirit of Chovoth as Goa celebrates the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi with much gaiety and spiritual fervour from tomorrow.
Installations of the Ganesha will begin from Monday morning and immersions from Tuesday onwards as both Goa police and lifeguards on the beach belt gear up to ensure a peaceful and safe festive season.
By Sunday evening most of the Sarvajanik mandals were decked up with flowers and decorative illumination as households also began the festivities with poojas and prayers at temples and family shrines.
Several competitions were also organised for the best decorated sarvajanik mandal and much emphasis was on plastic-free décor.
While prices of local commodities remained exorbitantly high, this again did not see any effect on shoppers as local markets were also bustling with people until Sunday night. Even travellers made it to their hometowns for the holidays and festivities despite inter-State ticket rates soaring.
Goa was also bustling on the tourism front as North Indian tourists descended in Goa in large numbers for the extended weekend.
The Goa Police stepped up its patrolling all over Goa and its presence was noted in the coastal areas and cities were much of the Ganesh festivities are concentrated in.
The popular festive sweet ‘modak’ was also selling fast at sweet marts over the weekend while Goan Hindu households preferred to make the traditional neoreos and laddoos at home.
The government offices will be closed for two days while schools, educational institutions will be on vacation for a week. Banks and commercial institutions will be shut for only one day.
