TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Gudi Padwa, which marks the beginning of the new year for Hindus was celebrated with religious fervour, exchange of greetings and hope across the State on Thursday.
The festival marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri and is seen as auspicious occasion to start new ventures and perform ceremonies.
In some parts of Goa, the Shigmo festival concludes on this day. Nearly all Hindus had hoisted Gudis on the tip of a bamboo at their homes, decorated with flowers, neem leaves and mango twig.
In Goa, Gudi Padwa is also associated with numerous cultural and folk programmes.
CM hopes for a better year
PORVORIM: Stating that there has been a substantial rise in road accidents, suicides and other social evils in the recent past, which is not a good sign, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar hoped that the New Year ushered in through Gudi Padwa will rid the State of all the evils.
He was speaking at the Gudi Padwa celebration at Mapusa taxi stand organised by the Mapusa Nav Varsha Swagat Samiti.
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza said it was a matter of great pride that Mapusa was hosting Gudi Padwa for 10 years now.
Later, main speaker Sunil Deodhar spoke on ‘From darkness towards light’. “Various types of evils in the form of darkness like corruption, injustice, exploitation, high cost of living, abortion and lack of respect to Indian women have engulfed the modern society and hence every individual should strive to move out from this darkness as early as possible,” said Deodhar.
Earlier, D’Souza installed the traditional Gudi to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Mapusa witnessed a number of processions beginning at dawn from different parts such as Sateri Temple, Khorlim, Dattawadi, Ansabhat and Ganeshpuri carrying saffron flags and Mashals or torches, accompanied by Lezims and Dindi and merging near the Maruti Temple.
