Sarvajanik Ganesh celebration: Fostering unity among Madkai villagers for two decades

Team Herald

PONDA: The unique 21-day Sarvajanik Ganesh Chaturthi celebration at Tonk-Madkai, has fostered unity among the villagers for 20 years.

The United Youth Organization (UYO), which celebrated its golden jubilee this year, initiated the festival two decades ago.

The Ganesh idol was immersed at the traditional immersion point with a procession on Friday.

Highlighting the significance of this celebration in preserving village unity, Madkai Sarpanch Shailendra Panjikar, also the President of UYO, said, “This celebration has kept the unity of villagers. Only a few celebrate the 21-day Ganesh festival in Goa and Madkai is one among them.”

He said, “Our club was formed in 1974 while the club members started Chaturthi celebrations 19 years ago. People from various parts visit Madkai for the festival. Various programmes including ghumat aarti, bhajans, drama, fancy dress and competitions are organised during the twenty days to promote talents among youth and children.”

Paresh Tari, a villager expressed pride in the senior citizens, who established the club and festival, which have contributed to maintaining the unity in the village

“We are celebrating the festival with great enthusiasm this year,” Tari added.